The United States has enacted visa sanctions against several Thai officials following the unexpected deportation of 40 Uyghurs back to China last month. This action marks a rare instance of punitive measures against countries that have repatriated members of the persecuted Muslim minority, despite warnings regarding the risks of torture and long-term imprisonment upon their return.
The visa restrictions may hinder the travel capabilities of former and current Thai officials deemed responsible for or complicit in the forced return of Uyghurs to the United States. The State Department has not disclosed the names of the officials involved, citing confidentiality.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “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.” This announcement coincided with the European Parliament's resolution condemning the deportation and urging Thailand to cease any further forced returns of refugees to countries where their lives are at risk.
The timing of these dual announcements presents challenges for the Thai government, which is currently attempting to avoid potential tariffs from the United States amid a $35 billion trade deficit. Additionally, Thailand is working to finalize a free-trade agreement with the European Union.
China has leveraged its influence to silence critics abroad and pressure governments into repatriating citizens fleeing persecution. Reports indicate that the Chinese government has detained as many as one million Uyghurs and others in internment camps, implemented stringent birth control measures for Muslim women, and placed Muslim children in boarding schools.
Julian Ku, a law professor at Hofstra University and an observer of U.S. policy regarding Uyghurs, remarked on social media that the visa restriction policy represents “a pretty dramatic step,” noting that he could not recall similar sanctions imposed on third-party countries before.
Thailand’s vice minister for foreign affairs stated that the deportation of the Uyghurs was in the nation’s best interest, citing potential retaliation from Beijing if they were sent to other countries. He mentioned that while some nations had offered to resettle the Uyghurs, he deemed those offers “unrealistic” as resettlement would not protect Thailand from possible repercussions with China.
The Thai foreign ministry released a statement indicating that the government had received assurances from Chinese authorities regarding the safety of the Uyghurs and would continue to monitor their well-being. The ministry also noted that it had clarified this situation with concerned countries on multiple occasions.
In response, Global Times, a state-owned newspaper in China, criticized the U.S. visa policy as “hypocritical meddling in China’s internal affairs under the guise of human rights.”