China on Tuesday urged the European Union (EU) to earnestly respect the spirit of the rule of law and China's judicial sovereignty after the European Union External Action Service (EEAS) expressed concern over the death penalty verdict for convicted drug smuggler Robert Schellenberg.

A Chinese court on Tuesday upheld a death sentence against Schellenberg, a Canadian national convicted of smuggling over 222.035 kg of methamphetamines in China in 2018.

The EU also called for clemency to be granted and said it's against the death penalty under all circumstances. 

"Drug-related crimes are serious crimes worldwide that are extremely harmful to society and every country takes a hard line on it," a spokesperson for the Chinese Mission to the EU said in a statement. "Chinese law retains death sentence and strictly controls its application. Death sentence for drug-related crimes that are extremely dangerous will help deter and prevent such crimes." 

The spokesperson added that the procedure of the case was entirely legal and the evidence was solid and sufficient.

"I wonder if the EU side, when calling for justice for a drug trafficker, has ever cared for the human rights of countless individuals and the well-being of their families who have been plagued by drugs," said the spokesperson.

Calling the EU statement reckless interference in China's internal affairs and judicial sovereignty, the spokesperson said China firmly opposes it and will never accept it.

The Chinese mission also urged the EU to earnestly respect the spirit of rule of law and China's judicial sovereignty and stop making irresponsible remarks.