Chinese authorities have executed a Filipino man convicted of drug trafficking, despite appeals by rights groups and the Philippine government.

Philippine officials said the 35-year-old defendant, who has not been publicly identified, was given a lethal injection Thursday after being allowed to briefly meet with members of his family and a priest.

The man was arrested in 2008 at a Chinese airport and charged with smuggling about 1.5 kilograms of heroin. He had entered the country from Malaysia as a tourist.

The case has outraged many rights groups, who say executions for non-violent offenses violate international standards of human rights.

Chinese authorities rejected an appeal for clemency by Philippine President Benigno Aquino, who wrote a letter earlier this week asking his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, to commute the death sentence.

This is the fourth Filipino drug smuggler to be put to death by Chinese authorities this year.