US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday that the US government is imposing visa sanctions on Thai officials involved in the deportation of at least 40 Uyghurs to China. The US claims that these individuals, members of a Muslim minority group, will face severe persecution if returned to China. The sanctions are a part of the US’s ongoing efforts to combat China’s pressure on governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other ethnic groups to China, where they are subjected to torture and enforced disappearances.
The US State Department issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to fighting such deportations, stating, “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 latest action aims to discourage Thailand, along with other countries, from carrying out similar deportations. While the US has previously imposed sanctions on Thailand—such as suspending military aid after coups and targeting Thai individuals and companies for violations of third-country sanctions—experts noted that it was unusual for the US to directly sanction Thai government officials, whose names were not disclosed in Rubio’s announcement.
The deportation of the Uyghurs by Thailand occurred in February, despite warnings from UN human rights experts that the individuals were at significant risk of torture, mistreatment, and “irreparable harm” if returned to China. The US and Canada had both offered to resettle 48 Uyghurs, but Thailand reportedly feared upsetting its relationship with China.
In his statement, Rubio announced the immediate imposition of visa restrictions on current and former Thai officials who were responsible for, or complicit in, the forced return of the 40 Uyghurs on February 27. Rubio emphasized that, in light of China’s actions against Uyghurs, the international community must stand firm against such deportations. “In light of China’s longstanding acts of genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Uyghurs, we call on governments around the world not to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China,” Rubio said.
The sanctions could also extend to the family members of those sanctioned, according to the State Department.
Thailand has defended its actions, claiming that the deportation was carried out in line with national laws and international human rights obligations. The Thai embassy in Washington has not yet commented on Rubio’s announcement.
Murray Hiebert, a regional expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, commented that he couldn’t recall any previous sanctions imposed on Thai government officials by the US. He noted that Thailand is often sensitive to criticism but speculated that its response to these sanctions could be tempered by ongoing trade relations with the US. “They already have a target on their back due to their significant trade surplus with the US,” Hiebert said, referring to the potential for further US tariffs. “It’s unclear whether Thailand is out of the woods yet when Trump imposes reciprocal tariffs in early April.”
While some analysts have expressed concerns that the US’s actions could drive Thailand closer to China, the Washington-based Campaign for Uyghurs advocacy group praised Rubio’s move. The group said it “sends a strong message that those who enable the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses will face consequences for their crimes.”
Rubio, a longtime advocate for Uyghur rights, reaffirmed his stance that China’s treatment of the Uyghurs constitutes “genocide and crimes against humanity.” This designation was first made by the US government in the final days of President Donald Trump’s first term in 2021.
In response, China continues to deny allegations of abuse and forced labor against the Uyghurs, maintaining that it has established “vocational training centers” to curb terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism in the region.
- Source ALARABIYA NEWS
