China Pledges to Reduce Number of Death Sentences

China will be more lenient in dealing with those sentenced to death, according to official media reports on Wednesday. China executes more people than any other country.

In China, more than 60 crimes are punishable by death, including tax evasion, embezzlement and drug trafficking, but the government does not release specific figures on executions. Many prisoners are executed immediately after being sentenced to death following trials that legal experts consider unjust and lacking transparency. "Judicial departments should try to reduce the number of death sentences. If there is reason not to kill someone, do not sentence them to death," said Zhang Jun, vice president of the Supreme People's Court.