Bangkok: In late February, representatives from a Thai Muslim organization assured 40 Uyghur men, who feared deportation to China, that there were no immediate plans for their expulsion. Less than 72 hours later, they were forcibly placed on a plane bound for Xinjiang, the far-western region of China, where UN experts warn they could face torture or worse.
Despite Thailand’s repeated public denials, official documents, parliamentary testimony, and interviews reveal that the government had secretly planned the deportation for over a month. By misleading the detainees, lawmakers, and religious leaders, Thai authorities effectively silenced any opportunity for advocacy or intervention before the men were covertly transferred to China.
Fallout from the Covert Repatriation
The move has sparked global condemnation, triggering diplomatic tensions between Thailand and its key allies. The United States has since imposed visa sanctions on multiple Thai officials involved, while the European Union and other Western nations have expressed their disapproval.
Thai officials, seeking to downplay the backlash, visited Xinjiang last week and insisted that the deported Uyghurs were being treated well. They further claimed that the men had voluntarily agreed to return to China—an assertion contradicted by mounting evidence and testimonies from human rights groups.
Thailand’s Dilemma: Between Beijing and Washington
The Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim, Turkic ethnic group native to Xinjiang, have long been subjected to suppression under Chinese rule. In recent years, Beijing has intensified its crackdown, which some Western governments have labeled as genocide.
The deported men were part of a larger group of Uyghurs detained in Thailand since 2014 after fleeing China. Their uncertain fate placed Thailand in a difficult geopolitical position—caught between Beijing’s demands to repatriate them, and mounting Western pressure to allow their resettlement in a third country.
Successive Thai governments avoided making a decision for nearly a decade, leaving the Uyghurs in indefinite detention. However, this policy shifted when Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took office last year. Her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, maintains close ties with Chinese officials. Soon after, Thai authorities began quietly negotiating the deportation of the detainees.
According to records from a parliamentary inquiry, China formally requested the repatriation on January 8. That same day, the Uyghurs were forced to sign deportation documents, causing panic and a hunger strike. Despite their protests, the National Security Council secretly approved the deportation on January 17, citing Beijing’s assurances of humane treatment.
Government’s Web of Deception
After the decision, Thai officials embarked on a series of misleading statements. On January 17, Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai assured reporters that there were no immediate deportation plans. The denials continued in a January 29 parliamentary session, with officials reiterating that no decision had been made.
Even a week before the deportation, the Justice Minister personally told Thai Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit that the men were not being sent back to China. In a February 24 meeting, representatives from Sheikhul Islam—a government-linked Islamic organization—echoed these reassurances to the detainees, insisting there was no imminent threat of repatriation. However, secret arrangements were already in motion.
According to voice recordings and meeting notes obtained by AP, the Uyghurs pleaded for prayers to prevent their deportation. Three days later, in the early hours of February 27, the men were secretly transferred onto trucks, their windows covered in black sheets. By morning, they were in China.
Escalating Backlash and Diplomatic Fallout
Once the deportation became public, Thai lawmakers voiced outrage, demanding answers and the release of security footage from the night of the operation. Initially, Thai officials claimed that no other country had offered asylum to the Uyghurs—a claim directly refuted by U.S. and Western diplomats, who confirmed multiple relocation offers.
In an attempt to ease tensions, senior Thai officials traveled to Xinjiang at Beijing’s invitation last week. Select Thai media outlets were invited, but AP’s request to join was denied. Thai government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsab insisted that “there is no need to worry about the Uyghurs”, stating that they were “living happily with their families”. However, strict restrictions were placed on the visiting delegation, who were only allowed to meet six of the 40 deported men. Moreover, media guidelines forbade journalists from capturing images of Uyghurs or Chinese officials, with official photos blurring out all faces except those of Thai delegates.
Also Read: Greenland PM Stresses Sovereignty Ahead of US Second Lady Usha Vance’s Visit
Western Sanctions and China’s Response
On March 14, the U.S. State Department announced visa sanctions on unidentified Thai officials linked to the deportation, while the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the act. Meanwhile, China has defended the repatriation, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning dismissing U.S. sanctions as “illegal” and denouncing Western criticism as interference in China’s internal affairs.
Despite attempts to justify the deportation, Thailand now finds itself at the center of international scrutiny—caught between the geopolitical battle lines of Beijing and Washington, with the fate of the Uyghur detainees hanging in the balance.
