I think it's fine to object to this use of the death penalty as unnecessary while still acknowledging that it's vastly superior to the American system of no penalty for the rich.

Edit: I completely reject the idea that it's inherently "appropriate" to punish anyone with death on some kind of moral basis, even if circumstances (by which I mean instability) makes it pragmatically necessary in some cases for getting rid of people who represent excessive liabilities if the opposition releases them again (which is not China's situation. Still better this than letting him get away with it, I'm not saying it's a profound humanitarian issue or anything.