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.
