US Sanctions Thai Officials for Deporting Uyghurs to China

March 14, 2025 TruthUSA

The policy will apply to current and former foreign officials for deporting Uyghurs or members of other ethnic or religious groups with ‘protection concerns.’

The United States on March 14 announced visa restrictions on Thailand officials in response to the deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, where the ethnic group has faced continued suppression.

The sanction came several weeks after Thailand sent back the 40 Uyghurs held in its custody for more than a decade. It applies to Thai officials responsible for the deportation decision, as well as other current and former foreign officials who played a part in deporting Uyghurs and other ethnic or religious groups with “protection concerns” to China.

“We are committed to combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China, where they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

Thailand previously defended its decisions, saying that the Uyghurs were sent back in accordance with Thai and international law. However, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra acknowledged earlier this month that the return of Uyghurs was out of concern about possible retaliation from the Chinese regime.

“Thailand could face retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais,” Jalichandra said in a statement on March 6.

Even though some countries had offered to resettle the Uyghurs, the Thai government considered them “unrealistic,” he said, adding that deporting them to China was the “best option.”

State Department officials met several Uyghur groups on Friday before announcing the sanctions.

Rushan Abbas, executive director at Campaign for Uyghurs, said they had discussed sanctions during their meeting.

She said she had directly talked to the Uyghur men detained in Bangkok when she visited in late January and that the men were “unequivocal in their refusal to return to China.”

“Today’s announcement is a critical milestone and first step in holding those responsible for these egregious forced deportations accountable,” Abbas told The Epoch Times.

She said the visa restriction “sends a resounding message: countries that violate human rights and flout international law will face consequences.” She urged the international community to follow the United States’ example.

Julie Millsap, government relations manager for advocacy group No Business With Genocide, said she was glad to see the action but hopes the United States can do more to prevent the deportation of those that remain and “protect vulnerable Uyghurs globally.”

“The United States should act in coordination with other countries to impose harsh sanctions on Chinese and Thai officials that were complicit in these deportations,” she told The Epoch Times.

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