Execution van
{{Short description|Chinese government vehicle used for executions}}
{{About|execution vans in China|the ones used in other parts of the world |Gas van}}
An execution van is a vehicle in which prisoners are executed through lethal injection.{{cite news |title=Killing Vans Make Process Easier For China's Authorities |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/killing-vans-make-process-easier-for-china-s-authorities-1.703093 |newspaper=The Irish Times |access-date=9 June 2024 |language=en |date=19 February 2009}} The vehicle is equipped with an execution chamber with a bed that physically restrains prisoners while lethal injections are administered. Execution vans have been used in the People's Republic of China since 2003.
People's Republic of China
{{See also|Capital punishment in China}}
In China, lethal injections were legalized in 1997.{{cite news | url= https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE55F0XT/ | title= China to swap bullets for lethal injections |work=Reuters}} Lethal injections are now the most prominent form of capital punishment in China and, in some provinces, are the only legal form of capital punishment.Congressional-Executive Commission on China, [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_house_committee_prints&docid=f:61507.pdf 2010 Annual Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205184654/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_house_committee_prints&docid=f:61507.pdf |date=5 December 2010 }}, 10 October 2010, p. 98.
Yunnan officials authorized the use of execution vans in March 2003 and the province deployed 18 vans in the same year. Zhao Shijie, president of the Yunnan Provincial High Court, said, "The use of lethal injection shows that China's death penalty system is becoming more civilized and humane". Amnesty International expressed concern that the use of execution vans could increase the use of executions. The Supreme People's Court encouraged provinces to adopt execution vans in December 2003.{{cite web |title=Undermining Global Security: the European Union's arms exports |date=2004 |publisher=Amnesty International |page=76 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act30/003/2004/en/ |access-date=9 June 2024}}
Makers of execution vans claim that, while expensive to purchase, they are cheaper for poor localities than building execution facilities in jails and courthouses.{{cite news |last=Fisher |first=Max |title=Yes, China still harvests organs from executed prisoners |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/11/05/yes-china-still-harvests-organs-from-executed-prisoners/ |access-date=2020-10-29}} In 2006, former Chinese judge and current lawyer Qiu Xingsheng argues that "some places can't afford the cost of sending a person to Beijing—perhaps $250—plus $125 more for the drug." Because Beijing is the only place where the drug is manufactured, the vans have allowed localities to administer the death sentence where the crime took place. As of June 2006, 40 execution vans have been manufactured by three companies, including Jinguan, in Jiangsu and Shandong. Naveco has also manufactured execution vans, according to Amnesty International.
Executions are recorded, so law enforcement can ensure they are carried out legally.
Notable executions
On December 22, 2003, organized crime leader, Liu Yong, was executed in an execution van.{{cite news |title=Mafia kingpin dies in execution van |work=Taipei Times |date=2003-12-23 |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/12/23/2003084622}}
On March 17, 2006, billionaire Yuan Baojing was executed in a van for the arranged murder of a blackmailer.{{cite news |title=China makes ultimate punishment mobile |work=USA Today |date=2006-06-15 |last=MacLeod |first=Calum |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-death-van_x.htm |access-date=9 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114120900/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-death-van_x.htm |archive-date=14 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}