The United States has restricted visas for current and former Thai officials involved in extraditing 40 Uyghurs to China last month, as announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
These visa restrictions are part of the United States’ broader strategy to counteract China’s attempts to coerce governments into repatriating Uyghurs and other minorities, explained the Secretary of State in a press release.
Marco Rubio highlighted that these minority groups in China are often subjected to torture and disappearances. The visa restrictions will target any officials responsible for deporting Uyghurs to China.
“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,” he stated.
The US has not disclosed the names of the Thai officials affected by the visa bans, indicating that some of their family members may also face similar restrictions.
Earlier in the month, Thailand justified its February 27 deportation decision as the “optimal solution” to avoid negative repercussions from China, aiming to strengthen its economic ties with China, a significant source of investment, to revitalize its sluggish economy.
Historically, the United States has sanctioned Thailand, including halting military aid following coups and targeting Thai individuals and businesses that breached sanctions against other nations.
However, Murray Hiebert, a Southeast Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, noted that sanctions specifically targeting Thai government officials were unprecedented.
Mr. Hiebert mentioned that Thailand is often sensitive to criticism, but it might restrain its response due to tariff threats from US President Donald Trump.
“They might want to keep a low profile,” he remarked. “Already targeted for having the 11th largest trade surplus with the US, it’s unclear if Thailand is out of the woods yet when Trump imposes reciprocal tariffs in early April.”
Observers have noted that the US has previously avoided imposing harsher sanctions on Thailand, fearing it might drive the longtime ally closer to China.
The US and other countries have repeatedly accused China of mistreating Uyghurs, a Muslim minority in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Despite international criticism for forcing Uyghurs into labor camps and relocation programs from rural to urban factory settings, Beijing denies these allegations.
This announcement from Washington came after the European Parliament passed a resolution on Thursday condemning Thailand for the deportation.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its actions, claiming it had received assurances from Beijing that the Uyghurs were not at risk.
