Thailand-
A delegation of Thai officials, including prominent ministers, is scheduled to travel to Xinjiang from March 18 to 20, 2025, to follow up on the welfare of Uyghur refugees previously deported by Thailand. This visit comes amid international scrutiny following the deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, an action that has drawn sharp criticism from the United States, the European Union, and human rights advocates.
The Pattaya News reported previously extensively on this issue including here.
The 25-member group is led by key figures involved in the deportation decision, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong, and National Security Council Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad.
The delegation will land in Kashi, a city in southwestern Xinjiang, on March 19. Their itinerary includes engaging with the local Uyghur community and holding discussions with regional leaders. On March 20, they are slated to tour the Law Enforcement and Case Management Center, a facility tied to the region’s security operations, and visit the historic Id Kah Mosque, where they will meet with religious figures and share a meal, to assess cultural and living conditions.
According to Jirayu Houngsub, the trip is designed to showcase Thailand’s transparency in handling the controversial deportation, which he claims adhered to an agreement with China. He stressed that the government conducted an extensive months-long review to confirm the Uyghurs’ safety post-deportation and ensure compliance with human rights norms. Jirayu also noted that Thailand intends to make such visits a recurring effort to counter global criticism and affirm its stance.
However, the deportation has sparked significant backlash. The U.S., EU, and organizations like Human Rights Watch have accused Thailand of breaching international law, specifically the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face persecution. In response, the U.S. has imposed travel restrictions on Thai officials linked to the decision—potentially including Phumtham and Tawee—while the European Parliament passed a resolution denouncing the move and calling for Thailand to halt such actions.
Nikorndej Balankura, spokesperson for Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, defended the government’s actions, asserting that China provided guarantees for the refugees’ well-being.
This has been met with skepticism, however, by critics.
