The U.S. government has imposed visa restrictions on Thai officials involved in the forced deportation of at least 40 Uyghur Muslims to China, a move that has sparked strong condemnation from Washington.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the decision in an official statement on Friday, stating, “On February 27, 40 Uyghurs were forcibly returned to China. We have decided to impose visa restrictions on former and current Thai officials involved in this action, and I have directed the immediate enforcement of this decision.”
The statement further emphasized the long-standing persecution, torture, and crimes against humanity committed by the Chinese government against the Uyghur community. The U.S. urged countries that provide asylum to Uyghurs not to deport them back to China.
A separate statement from the U.S. State Department accused China of pressuring neighboring countries to repatriate Uyghur refugees, pledging that the U.S. would take measures to counter such efforts. It warned that Uyghurs sent back to China face ongoing repression, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings.
Thailand, a key U.S. ally in Southeast Asia, has never faced such sanctions before, according to Marie Hebert, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
State Department officials stated that the visa restrictions aim to deter other Asian countries from deporting Uyghur refugees. While the exact number of affected Thai officials remains undisclosed, the ban may also extend to their family members.
The deportation occurred despite objections from the U.S. and Canada, both of which had offered assistance in resettling the Uyghurs in Thailand. However, Bangkok refrained from taking any actions that might displease Beijing.
When the deportation took place on February 27, the U.S. initially expressed its dissatisfaction. The Thai government defended its decision, claiming that the deportations were carried out in accordance with legal and human rights standards.
Following the U.S. visa ban announcement on Friday, Reuters attempted to obtain a response from the Thai Embassy in Washington, but officials declined to comment.