Bangkok: Thailand has justified its recent deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, stating that the decision was made in the country’s best interests due to concerns over possible retaliation from Beijing.
Despite international warnings that the Uyghurs could face torture and persecution upon their return, Thai authorities proceeded with the secretive transfer.
Russ Jalichandra, Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, acknowledged on Thursday that some countries had offered to resettle the Uyghurs. This contradicts earlier statements from Thai officials who claimed no such offers had been made. However, he did not specify which countries had extended the proposals.
According to reports, the United States, Canada, and Australia had all expressed willingness to provide refuge, but Thailand hesitated out of concern for its relationship with China. Jalichandra defended the decision, arguing that even if the Uyghurs were relocated elsewhere, Thailand could still face repercussions from Beijing, which he did not specify.
"Thailand could face retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais," he said, emphasizing that returning the Uyghurs to China was the "best option" under the circumstances.
China's foreign ministry and its embassy in Bangkok have yet to comment on Thailand's concerns about possible retaliation. However, earlier this week, the ministry stated that those deported were Chinese nationals who had entered Thailand illegally and that their return was in accordance with both Chinese and Thai laws.
The deported Uyghurs were part of a group of 300 who fled China in 2014. Some had previously been sent to Turkey, while others remained in Thai custody for over a decade before this latest deportation.
