Thailand plans China visit to check on Uygur deportees’ welfare

Thailand has defended its move to return 40 Uygurs to China. The US last week imposed travel sanctions on Thai officials over the deportation

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Suspected Uygur detainees are transported to a detention facility in the town of Songkhla, southern Thailand, in 2014. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:03am, 17 Mar 2025

A delegation from the Thai government will visit China this week to check on the welfare of dozens of Uygur refugees, after their controversial deportation drew global condemnation and US travel sanctions on local officials.

Government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said that Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai would lead the delegation to Kashi city in Xinjiang, which would also include members of the media. The March 18-20 visit would follow up on concerns expressed by several countries about the welfare of the refugees, he said in a statement on Sunday.

Thailand has defended its move to return 40 Uygurs to China last month, saying it had received assurances from Beijing over their safety and integration back into society. The visit by Thai officials is part of a deal struck by Bangkok with Chinese authorities when it agreed to send the Uygurs back after a decade in detention.

The US State Department on Friday announced travel restrictions on an unspecified number of current and former Thai officials involved in the deportation of Uygurs. The sanctions are part of a new policy aimed at combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uygurs and others to China, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The United States did not identify the Thai officials who would face visa restrictions. It said certain family members of the targeted individuals might also be subject to the measures.

Unidentified detainees leave an immigration detention centre in Bangkok, Thailand, on February 27. Photo: Prachatai newspaper via AP

Thai officials earlier this month described the February 27 deportation as the “best solution” to avoid a backlash from Beijing. Thailand – a long-standing treaty ally of the US – has deepened its ties with China in recent years, with its Asian neighbour emerging as its largest trade partner and a key source of foreign investment.