US hits Thai officials with visa sanctions over deportation of Uyghurs to China

The United States has imposed sanctions on Thai officials for their involvement in deporting at least 40 Uyghurs back to China. The U.S. stated that these Uyghurs would face persecution in China. This action is intended to deter Thailand and other countries from carrying out such deportations again.

The U.S. State Department stated that the United States is "committed to combating the PRC’s efforts to pressure governments to return Uyghurs and members of other groups to China, where they face the risk of torture and forced disappearance." Thailand deported this group of Uyghurs, who had been detained for a decade, in February of this year, despite warnings from UN human rights experts that they would face torture and harm if returned.

The Uyghur Human Rights Project, a U.S.-based Uyghur advocacy organization, welcomed the sanctions but considered them only a "cold comfort" for the 40 Uyghurs who had already been deported. "The international community failed to uphold basic norms during the decade these individuals were detained without committing a crime," said Peter Irwin, the project's deputy director. Irwin also urged Australia to offer resettlement proposals to Thailand to ensure that the remaining Uyghurs can obtain security as soon as possible.

According to previous reports from Reuters, Canada and the United States had offered to resettle 48 Uyghurs, but Bangkok was concerned about offending China. Since 2017, Chinese authorities have carried out a so-called "People's War on Terror" aimed at eliminating extremism among Uyghurs. It is estimated that at least 1 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities have been extrajudicially detained in detention camps, which Beijing claims are vocational training centers.

Thailand defended its deportation, stating that its actions were in accordance with legal and human rights obligations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in his statement: "I am immediately implementing this policy and taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former Thai government officials who are responsible for or participated in the forced repatriation of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27." Rubio also stated, "Given the PRC’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and members of other groups to China." These restrictions may be extended to family members of those sanctioned.

Murray Hiebert, a prominent regional expert with the Southeast Asia Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said he does not recall the U.S. having sanctioned Thai government officials in the past. He pointed out that Thailand may be very sensitive to criticism, but that U.S. President Trump's tariff threats to countries with high trade surpluses with the U.S. may temper its reaction. "They may want to keep a low profile," he said. "They’re already in the crosshairs because they have the 11th largest trade surplus with the U.S. ... It’s not clear whether Thailand has dodged a bullet, because Trump is going to be implementing reciprocal tariffs in early April." Analysts say Washington has avoided harsher measures against Thailand in the past for fear it could push its longtime ally toward China.

Rubio reiterated that Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs constitutes "genocide and crimes against humanity." China denies allegations of abuse and forced labor of Uyghurs, arguing that it has established "vocational training centers" in recent years to curb terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, added, "The U.S. government is taking concrete action to hold officials accountable for forcibly returning Uyghurs to China." She added, "This should have a deterrent effect around the world and give some hope of protection to Uyghurs living in fear of being forcibly returned to China."