Chinese men who robbed an American diplomat of the equivalent of £40 have been sentenced to death.
Armed with knives, Li Guang and Mu Jiangqiao stole 400 yuan, a camera and a watch from an unnamed US diplomat in Lijiang last August.
The Shanghai-based diplomat's assailants have also confessed to committing several other robberies.
The US Consulate in Shanghai has not issued a comment on the sentencing.
In a separate case, it was found Zhang Yunsong robbed two Dutch tourists of $80 worth of Chinese and US currency in Lijiang in July.
Zhang confessed to six other robberies and has been sentenced to death. Nine accomplices of the three robbers have received unspecified prison terms.
Those guilty of similar crimes will be "punished without leniency," Lijiang court President Zhao Qin has been quoted as saying.
The sentences adhere to the government's 5-year-old "Strike Hard" campaign against crime, which encourages speedier investigations and trials and more liberal use of the death penalty.
Beijing tends to punish crimes against foreigners more harshly to promote an image of China as a safe place for tourism and investment. Despite increasing crime and violence nationwide, crimes against foreigners remain rare.
China executes more prisoners each year than the rest of the world combined. State-run media have reported more than 100 executions so far this month. Most executions are carried out by gunshot to the back of the head.
PA