Executions in China Still Outpace the Rest of the World Despite Decline
A paramilitary police officer stands guard in front of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Beijing (AP) -- China's use of the death penalty remains shrouded in secrecy and still outpaces the rest of the world combined, even after the nation's execution rate fell sharply over the past decade, human rights activists said Tuesday.
Amnesty International reported 1,032 state-sponsored executions worldwide in 2016, excluding China, where the true number is unknown because the government considers it a state secret. The group said it believes China executed thousands, but it didn't offer a more precise estimate due to a lack of accurate information.