BEIJING , China ( CNN ) -- China , often criticized for its liberal use of the death penalty , will reduce the number of criminal executions it carries out , a top official said . Chinese police guard a group of prisoners outside a Beijing court on May 25 , 2001 , before their sentencing . `` As it is impossible for the country to abolish capital punishment under current realities and social security conditions , it is an important effort to strictly control the application of the penalty by judicial organs , '' Zhang Jun , vice president of the Supreme People 's Court , said in an interview with Legal Daily , the state-run China Daily reported . `` Judicial departments should use the least number of death sentences as possible , and death penalties should not be given to those having a reason for not being executed , '' Zhang said . Legislation will be enacted to restrict the number of death sentences imposed and the court will tighten restrictions on the use of capital punishment , according to Zhang . The sentence of `` death penalty with reprieve '' will be used more often in courts , Zhang said , which could be commuted to life in prison . The term could later be shortened to 20 years and possibly reduced further for good behavior . China will retain the death sentence , according to Zhang , adding that it should be applied to `` an extremely small number '' of serious offenders . Human rights groups estimate 1,700 to 5,000 people were executed in China last year for crimes such as spying , corruption and drug trafficking . The official number of executions is a state secret . The death penalty remains an iconic form of punishment in China , where executions are used as a public warning . Sentencing is broadcast on national television . Two years ago , however , the Supreme Court was given the authority to review death penalty cases and , last year , 10 percent of death sentences were overturned . Criminals who 've expressed remorse or agreed to compensate victims ' families have had their sentences reduced . The death penalty will now be reserved for those who commit heinous crimes with `` grave social consequences , '' the government said . It 's a step in the right direction , China analysts say . But they criticize the move as being too ambiguous and remain skeptical that it will lead to an actual reduction in executions . `` This is a small incremental step , but a step in the right direction , '' said Victor Gao , a director of the China National Association of International Studies . `` While other countries have abolished the death penalty because they think it is cruel and unusual punishment , China has decided it wants to keep the death penalty . '' Crimes with `` grave social consequences '' is a `` broad , catch-all concept which can be interpreted flexibly , '' Gao said . CNN 's Emily Chang contributed to this report .
Government : Execution only for heinous crimes with `` grave social consequences '' Human rights groups estimate 1,700-5,000 people were executed in China last year . Comment: `` This is a small incremental step , but a step in the right direction , '' Victor Gao says .