China has sentenced a fourth Canadian citizen to death on drug charges in less than two years following a sharp downturn in relations over the arrest of an executive of a Chinese tech firm.

YE JIANHUI was sentenced by the Foshan Municipal Intermediate Court in the southern province of Guangdong. 

The court said in a brief statement that YE has been found guilty of manufacturing and transporting drugs 

Another suspect in the case was also given the death penalty and four others sentenced to between seven years and life in prison.

Death sentences are automatically referred to China's highest court for review.