China death sentence for Australian not 'necessarily' linked to ongoing friction, minister says

Simon Birmingham says Cam Gillespie, arrested with over 7.5kg of methamphetamine, has 10 days to appeal

Australia's trade minister says the sentencing to death in China of an Australian man for drug smuggling should not necessarily be linked to the ongoing friction between the countries.

Cam Gillespie was arrested with more than 7.5kg of methamphetamine in his check-in luggage in 2013 while attempting to board an international flight from Baiyun airport in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.