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Opinion | Karm Gilespie’s case cannot be separated completely from strained Sino-Australian relations
- The case highlights rise of ‘hostage diplomacy’, when one country detains a foreign citizen as retaliation for actions that might have displeased it
- Unfortunately for those like Gilespie who are arguably caught up in a wider political game, there is little sign of tensions easing
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The case of Australian Karm Gilespie, who has been sentenced to death by a Chinese court on drugs charges pending an appeal, cannot be separated from a recent souring in Sino-Australian relations.
Gilespie was reportedly arrested with 7.5kg of ice in his luggage in 2013, while attempting to leave China.
His arrest clearly pre-dates the recent deterioration of relations between Australia and China. But the sudden announcement of his death sentence raises questions about whether China-Australia tensions have influenced his case.
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Certainly, the backdrop makes his prospects even more grim. Bad relations lessen the chance of securing a commutation of his sentence, or indeed his early release, in an opaque justice system.
These are very unpromising circumstances for a foreigner who falls foul of the Chinese authorities, whether that individual has done anything wrong or not. The risks are greater these days for nationals of countries – like Australia and Canada – that have displeased Beijing.
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One of the ways this has played out has been in a rise in “hostage diplomacy”, a relatively modern description of an age-old diplomatic weapon. It occurs when one country detains a foreign citizen as retaliation for actions that might have displeased it, or as a bargaining chip to secure the release of one of its own nationals, or a combination of both.
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