The Ministry of Justice in Taiwan says four prisoners have been executed - the first time the death sentence has been carried out there since 2005.
They were shot by firing squad.
One of the four had been convicted of murdering a kidnapped schoolgirl after her family had paid a ransom.
The new minister of justice had been under pressure from families of the victims to resume executions.
The former minister stood down in March after refusing to sign death warrants for 44 prisoners.
A total of 49 people were put to death between 2000 - 2005.
