Sat Mar 15 11:01:40 UTC 2025: ## US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Thai Officials Over Uighur Deportations

**Bangkok/Washington D.C.** – The United States has imposed visa restrictions on unspecified Thai officials in response to the deportation of at least 40 Uighurs to China last month. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the deportations, stating that the individuals faced the risk of persecution, including torture and forced labor, in China. The move comes after years of accusations against China for widespread human rights abuses against the Uighur population in Xinjiang.

Rubio’s statement strongly criticized Thailand’s actions, asserting the US commitment to combating China’s efforts to pressure countries into forcibly returning Uighurs. He did not name the sanctioned individuals.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs defended its decision, claiming China had assured them the Uighurs would be unharmed and that Thailand would monitor their well-being. The ministry highlighted Thailand’s long history of humanitarian assistance to displaced persons. Furthermore, the Thai defense and justice ministers plan a trip to China next week to visit the deported Uighurs, inviting Thai journalists to accompany them.

This incident follows a 2014 detention of over 300 Uighurs in Thailand, with 48 remaining in detention until their recent repatriation. The Chinese embassy in Bangkok described the individuals as “smuggled Chinese nationals” who were “reunited with their families after more than 10 years.”

While Thailand maintains its actions were in line with its humanitarian tradition, the US sanctions underscore international concern over the fate of Uighurs returned to China. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between China’s human rights record and its influence on regional diplomatic relations.

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