USA imposes visa sanctions against Thai officials responsible for Uighur deportation

[Gaybutton]

Part of the article says "Thailand would follow up on their well being."

Ok, that's fine. Meanwhile suppose Thailand discovers they are being mistreated despite China's assurances. Then what? What could Thailand do about it other than complain, if they even do that? As far as I know there is nothing they can do. They might refuse to deport any additional Uighurs still present in Thailand. A fat lot of good that would do for the Uighurs already deported. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't trust China for a nanosecond that they will keep their word about how they will treat these people.

When Thai officials travel to China to check on the well being of these people, I'm expecting them to report they are being treated well - no matter what they find.

In my opinion it is wrong for any country to use people as political pawns and force them into dangerous or punitive circumstances - and there is nothing that can ever make it right.
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US sanctions Thailand’s officials over deportation of Uighurs to China

Thailand defends deportation decision as US says it will impose visa restrictions on official complicit in the deportations.

March 15, 2025

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced sanctions against an unidentified number of officials in Thailand for deporting at least 40 Uighurs to China last month, despite apprehensions they could be persecuted.

Rubio said in a statement on Friday that he was immediately imposing visa restrictions on current and former officials responsible for or complicit in the deportations. No Thai official has been named.

For years, rights groups have been accusing China of widespread abuses, including the mass detention of Uighurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority of about 10 million people in the western region of Xinjiang. Beijing rejects those claims.

“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,” Rubio said.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday said it had clarified multiple times with countries that have conveyed their concerns over the safety of the men that China assured that they would be unharmed, and that Thailand would follow up on their well being.

“Thailand has always upheld a long tradition of humanitarianism, particularly in providing assistance to displaced persons from various countries for more than half a century and will continue to do so,” the ministry said in a statement.

Thailand’s ministers of defence and justice said they scheduled a trip to visit the men in China next week. A number of Thai journalists were invited to join them.

More than 300 Uighurs fleeing China were detained in 2014 by Thai authorities. By February, 48 Uighurs remained in Thai detention when authorities prepared to send them back to China, despite calls from Thai lawmakers and international officials not to do so.

Rubio condemned the return “in the strongest possible terms”, saying “Uyghurs have faced persecution, forced labor, and torture” in China.

In Facebook posts, the Chinese embassy in Bangkok said 40 Chinese nationals who had been “smuggled” were repatriated to Xinjiang on a chartered flight and they had “all returned home and reunited with their families after more than 10 years”.

Rubio has been a longtime critic of Beijing, and he was twice sanctioned by the Chinese government in 2020 over his support for the rights of Uighurs and people in Hong Kong.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/1 ... na-uighurs

[Jun]

#1 The US is also deporting illegal immigrants? I think you said you would support that and I'd definitely support it if the UK government did the same.

#2 Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Uighur situation, I can't imagine they worry too much when people in the gay community are persecuted in other Islamic areas, such as Iran or Indonesia. I'll reciprocate and extend a similar level of sympathy to the Uighurs.

[Gaybutton]

My understanding is the Uighurs were in Thailand legally, under asylum protection and had been for years. The fact they were deported anyway is what has the USA, among many countries, so outraged.

The public only knows what news reports are saying, so you'll have to draw your own conclusions.

[DragonMaster]

My understanding is the Uighurs were in Thailand legally, under asylum protection and had been for years. The fact they were deported anyway is what has the USA, among many countries, so outraged.

Your understanding may be incorrect. A quick search provided this bit of information.


The Uighurs in Thailand were asylum seekers, but their legal status is complicated. They had submitted applications to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but the agency hasn't declared them refugees or provided clear protection .

In fact, Thailand is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and doesn't recognize refugee status, categorizing asylum seekers like the Uighurs as illegal migrants instead. However, the UNHCR does have the mandate to grant refugee status in Thailand, but it hasn't done so for the Uighurs .

Some of the Uighurs had received certificates from UNHCR, designating them as asylum seekers, but these certificates were later withdrawn or allowed to expire. This move has raised questions about UNHCR's approach to protecting the group .

[Moses]

You know, it is funny: if Rubio is really caring about these Uighurs and wants to save them from “Uyghurs have faced persecution, forced labor, and torture”, he can invite them to US, instead of dictate what should do foreign officials. Or he may to pay to Thailand for caring about Uighurs.

US is not the Supreme court for Thailand, and Rubio isn't king of Thailand for sure.

Rubio just uses Thailand for anti-China propaganda.

[Gaybutton]

You know, it is funny: if Rubio is really caring about these Uighurs and wants to save them from “Uyghurs have faced persecution, forced labor, and torture”, he can invite them to US.

Apparently the USA did offer asylum to the Uighurs. So did Canada and Australia. Several news reports on Google corroborate that.

I just hope those people really are being treated well and are not now and never will be subject to persecution.

I'm no fan of Rubio either. Here he is, all bent out of shape about the Uighurs. Ok, what about the Royhingyas? They are a persecuted people too, but never a word about them from Rubio - or anyone else in the USA government that I am aware of.
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Canada and US offered Uyghurs in Thailand asylum before deportation to China, sources say

By Panu Wongcha-um, Reuters

March 5, 2025

Canada and the United States offered to resettle 48 ethnic Uyghurs held in detention in Thailand over the past decade, sources told Reuters, but Bangkok took no action for fear of upsetting China, where they were covertly deported last week.

Thailand has defended the deportation, which came despite calls from United Nations human rights experts, saying that it acted in accordance to laws and human rights obligations.

Human rights groups accuse China of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority numbering about 10 million in its northwestern region of Xinjiang. Beijing denies any abuses.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Monday that no country made any concrete offer to resettle the 48 Uyghurs.

"We waited for more than 10 years, and I have spoken to many major countries, but no one told me for certain," he told reporters.
Phumtham was out of government from 2006 until mid-2023.

The United States offered to resettle the 48 Uyghurs, said an official from the U.S. State Department.

"The United States has worked with Thailand for years to avoid this situation, including by consistently and repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs in other countries, including, at one point, the United States," the U.S. official said, asking not to be named.

Canada also offered asylum to the detained Uyghurs, said four sources, including diplomats and people with direct knowledge.

Two of these sources said another offer came from Australia.

These proposals, which the sources said were not taken forward by Thailand over fears of a fallout with China, have not been previously reported.

All the sources declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Thailand's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

China's foreign ministry said in response to a question from Reuters that the repatriation was carried out in accordance with Chinese, Thai and international law.

"The repatriated were Chinese nationals who are illegal migrants," it said. "The legitimate rights of the relevant people are fully protected."

A spokesperson for Canada's immigration ministry said they would not comment on individual cases.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade referred to a statement by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who said on Friday the country "strongly disagrees" with Thailand's decision.

Besides the 40 Uyghurs deported last week, five are currently in a Thai prison due to an ongoing criminal case, according to local officials. Reuters could not immediately confirm the whereabouts of the other three people.

ACCESS DENIED

Pisan Manawapat, a Thai ambassador to Canada and the U.S between 2013 and 2017 and a senator before he retired in 2024, said that at least three countries had approached Thailand with proposals to resettle the Uyghurs, but declined to name them.

"We didn't want to upset China," Pisan told Reuters, without providing further details. "So we did not make the decision at the political level to go through with this."

China is Thailand's biggest trade partner and the two countries have close business ties.

Deputy premier Phumtham said Thailand made the decision to deport the group to China last week after reassurances from Beijing that Thai officials would be allow to monitor the Uyghurs' well-being in the country following their return.

United Nations human rights experts had said the group would be at risk of torture, ill-treatment, and "irreparable harm" if returned to China, and their deportation has drawn widespread condemnation.

Following the deportation, the UN's refugee agency said in a statement that it was repeatedly denied access to the group by Thai authorities.

A source said the UN refugee agency's lack of access to the Uyghurs meant they could not be processed as asylum seekers, stalling their potential resettlement and leaving them stuck in detention.

https://www.reuters.com/world/canada-us ... 025-03-05/

[Moses]

===Ok, what about the Royhingyas? They are a persecuted people too===

Story with Royhingyas isn't that simple as it is represented in Western medias. Almost all from all adult male population of Royhingyas are members of 3 "Army of Royhingya state" (is better to call them gangs of radicals).

Royhingyas aren't living on their historical lands, but were placed there by British administration. Now that part of Burma is Myanmar and Burmese aren't happy with gangs of radicals on their territory. Even Nobel Peace Prize "winner" political dissident wasn't happy with Royhingyas issue.

[Jun]

The only part of Thailand with a significanf conflict with minorities is in the deep south. There's a common theme there and with many other troubled areas around the world.

In the Uighurs case, I wouldn't heap all the blame on the Chinese government.

Also, as experience from Europe shows, refugees can repay the generosity of countries that take them in with terrorist attacks.

[Gaybutton]

Thailand Responds to U.S. Sanctions Over Uyghur Deportations, Reaffirms Humanitarian Stance

By Goongnang Suksawat

16 March 2025

Bangkok, March 16th, 2025 – The Thai government has issued an official response to a U.S. Department of State policy announcement on March 14, 2025, which imposed visa restrictions on Thai officials involved in the deportation of 40 Uyghur men to China. The sanctions, announced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, targeted current and former Thai officials deemed responsible for or complicit in the February 27 deportation, an action the U.S. condemned as a violation of international human rights norms. The specific names of officials has still not been publicly released as of press time.

In its statement, Thailand acknowledged the U.S. policy but emphasized that it had secured assurances from China regarding the safety of the deported Uyghurs. “The Thai Government has received assurances from the Government of China concerning the safety of the Uyghurs and will continue to follow up on the well-being of this group,” the statement read.

Thai officials also noted that they have repeatedly addressed concerns with nations critical of the move, including the United States, a long-standing treaty ally. The government underscored its commitment to humanitarian principles, citing over 50 years of providing aid to displaced persons from various countries. “Thailand has always upheld a long tradition of humanitarianism… and will continue to do so,” the statement affirmed.

The Thai response also highlighted the importance of its alliance with the U.S., describing it as a relationship “Based on mutual respect and shared strategic interests” at both bilateral and regional levels. This nod to diplomacy comes amid strained ties following the U.S. sanctions, which marked a rare point of friction between the two nations.

The U.S. policy announcement stemmed from Thailand’s deportation of 40 Uyghurs—part of a larger group detained since 2014 after fleeing persecution in China’s Xinjiang region—back to China on February 27, 2025. In his March 14 statement, Rubio condemned the move in stark terms, announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This policy targets foreign officials involved in the forced return of Uyghurs or other ethnic and religious minorities to China, where the U.S. asserts they face persecution, torture, and enforced disappearances. China firmly denies this will happen.

Rubio’s statement provided broader context for the U.S. position, linking the sanctions to China’s documented human rights abuses. “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,” he declared. He specifically cited “China’s longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs” as justification for immediate action against Thai officials involved in the deportation. Rubio also noted that family members of those sanctioned could face similar visa restrictions, amplifying the policy’s scope.

The U.S. Secretary of State expressed alarm at Thailand’s actions, given its status as a longstanding ally, and urged governments worldwide to refrain from repatriating Uyghurs to China.

Thailand’s decision to deport the Uyghurs, despite international pleas from the United Nations, the European Union, and human rights groups, has reignited debate over its balancing act between Western alliances and its economic ties with China. The deportation echoed a 2015 incident when Thailand sent 109 Uyghurs back to China, sparking global outrage and a retaliatory bombing at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine that killed 20 people. Thai authorities have defended the recent move as lawful, with Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stating on February 27 that China assured the Uyghurs would be “looked after well.”

The U.S. sanctions represent a big escalation, with experts noting it as a rare instance of punitive measures against a Southeast Asian ally.

As Bangkok navigates trade negotiations with the EU and potential U.S. tariffs, the Uyghur issue could further complicate its foreign relations. For now, Thailand insists it will monitor the welfare of the deported Uyghurs, though skepticism remains high among critics who fear they face grave risks in China.

https://tpnnational.com/2025/03/16/thai ... an-stance/

[Gaybutton]

I wonder how many of those who will have their visas restricted were planning a trip to the USA in the first place. Rubio's statement does not say just what those restrictions are and doesn't name any of the officials who will have these restrictions imposed on them or for how long the restrictions will be in place.

To me it sounds like a lot of bluster that actually means absolutely nothing.
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The USA embassy published the following. It is on their web site at: https://th.usembassy.gov/announcement-o ... on-policy/
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Announcement of a Visa Restriction Policy to Address the Forced Return of Uyghurs and Members of Other Ethnic or Religious Groups with Protection Concerns to China

Statement by

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

March 14, 2025

Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy that will apply to current or former foreign government officials responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of Uyghurs or members of 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.

I am immediately implementing this policy by taking steps to impose visa restrictions on current and former officials from the Government of Thailand responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of 40 Uyghurs from Thailand on February 27.

In light of China’s longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China.

This visa restriction policy is pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and allows the Department of State to pursue visa restrictions for current or former foreign government officials who are responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return to China of Uyghurs or members of other ethnic or religious groups with protection concerns. Certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.