Thailand’s recent deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China was in the country's best interest, given the potential risk of retaliation from Beijing, a Thai minister stated on Thursday (March 6). The move has sparked criticism, as the Thai government carried out the deportations despite warnings from UN human rights experts. The experts had cautioned that the Uyghurs faced a serious risk of torture, mistreatment, and irreversible harm if sent back to China.

China has long been accused by human rights groups of widespread repression against Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group of around 10 million people in Xinjiang. However, Beijing has consistently denied these allegations. Russ Jalichandra, Thailand’s vice minister for foreign affairs, acknowledged that some countries had offered to resettle the Uyghurs—contradicting earlier claims by Thai officials that no such offers had been made. While he did not specify which countries, reports suggest that the United States, Canada, and Australia had extended offers to help.

Despite this, Thailand ultimately opted to deport the group to China. Russ argued that accepting resettlement offers would not have shielded Thailand from potential fallout with Beijing. He stressed that "Thailand could face retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais," and thus, sending the Uyghurs to China was considered the "best option."

He did not clarify what form this retaliation might take. China’s foreign ministry and its embassy in Bangkok have not yet responded to the vice minister’s remarks. However, earlier this week, the Chinese foreign ministry told Reuters that the deported individuals were illegal migrants and that the process followed Chinese, Thai, and international laws. This group of 40 Uyghurs was part of a larger group of 300 who fled China and were arrested in Thailand in 2014. Over the years, some were sent to China, others to Turkey, while the rest remained in Thai custody for more than a decade.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Urs Flueeler via Reuters file.