U.S. Rejects Thai Claims on Lack of Uyghur Resettlement Offers

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

In a stark rebuttal to Thailand's narrative, the United States has disclosed its continuous efforts to prevent Uyghur deportation to China, including offers to resettle them in third-party countries. This clarification comes amid controversy over the repatriation of 40 Uyghurs who spent 11 years in Thai detention.

 

A US State Department representative stated that the US had persistently proposed resettlement solutions for the Uyghurs, involving various countries, including possible resettlement within the United States.

 

The recent return of the Uyghurs to China has sparked international criticism. Global human rights groups, as well as numerous nations, argue that the returnees risk persecution and even death in China.

 

In response, the Thai government maintained that the Uyghurs had voluntarily chosen to return to Xinjiang, asserting their safety under Chinese assurances. Thai officials also claimed there were no viable resettlement offers from other countries.

Russ Jalichandra, Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, labelled the third-country offers as "unrealistic," expressing concerns about potential repercussions from China that might affect Thailand's economy. Hence, they justified sending the Uyghurs back to China as an optimal solution, despite widespread dissent.

 

The 40 Uyghurs, having escaped state suppression aimed at their ethnic group in Xinjiang, were discreetly moved from a Bangkok detention centre last week, sparking local and international outcry.

 

China, for its part, denies allegations of mistreatment, asserting its Xinjiang policies solely focus on fostering economic growth and eradicating extremism, while dismissing external criticisms of this issue as interference in domestic matters, reportedn Thai PBS.

 

-- 2025-03-08

 

 

[hotsun]

Thailand desperately deserves reciprocity from the US for taking advantage of unfair trade and also aligning with China. Ill be waiting for the day, they wont know what hit em

[JoePai]

So the Thais lied - what a surprise

[JimGant]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A US State Department representative stated that the US had persistently proposed resettlement solutions for the Uyghurs, involving various countries

Haiti?

[Tropicalevo]

This could possible seal the deal for Thailand becoming another remote Chinese state.

This government have pizzed off their second 'bestest friend'.

[MikeandDow]

International reputation down the tubes !!  well done Thailand

[Hamus Yaigh]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

A US State Department representative stated that the US had persistently proposed resettlement solutions for the Uyghurs, involving various countries, including possible resettlement within the United States.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, labelled the third-country offers as "unrealistic,"

The Thai POV seems more plausible and less hypocritical than the US State Depts in today's toxic world politics.

[SABloke]

For such an "authoritarian" state, China seems really inefficient at persecution and/or genocide as claimed by some, since there are millions of Uyghurs currently going about their business in China. 🤔 Is there any possibility that these 40 might have been up to something else which is why the left (fled) China? No? Ok then. 

[Presnock]

3 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

 

The Thai POV seems more plausible and less hypocritical than the US State Depts in today's toxic world politics.

But he did say that Thailand didnot want to upset the Chinese  so how can you state your position here?

[mfd101]

Turkey was the obvious place (ethnically) for them to seek refuge in. And, as I understand it, Turkey had made the offer.

 

Which suggests that the Thai motive was indeed a cynical one, not a humanitarian. Quelle surprise!

[Presnock]

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

But he did say that Thailand didnot want to upset the Chinese  so how can you state your position here?

if yu read the blurb about the sending them back to China, the Thai Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed concerns about the potential repercussions from China might affect Thailand's economy.  This all happening after the PM met with Xi in China.  No other way to put it, the Thai's ignored world opinion and offers so as to please the Chinese.

[Peabody]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

labelled the third-country offers as "unrealistic," expressing concerns about potential repercussions from China that might affect Thailand's economy.

The bottom line. Always the bottom line.

I'm sure that must be the major concern from the UNHCR, too.

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

In response, the Thai government maintained that the Uyghurs had voluntarily chosen to return to Xinjiang, asserting their safety under Chinese assurances. Thai officials also claimed there were no viable resettlement offers from other countries.

 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

A US State Department representative stated that the US had persistently proposed resettlement solutions for the Uyghurs, involving various countries, including possible resettlement within the United States.

Someone's telling porkies.. 

And after a recent visit to China buy the porcelain doll I wonder who it might be.

[Adam Tomaszewski]

The Thai government must give UYGHURS Thai citizenship!!  They have lived there for more than 11 years!!!

[Captain Flack]

@Adam Tomaszewskistop posting the quoted post in a translated language. English is the only language to be used.

 

Rule 16. English is the only permitted language anywhere on ASEAN NOW, except within the Thai language  forum, where using Thai is allowed. Short Thai translations of technical terms are permitted in specialty  forums. While we make allowances for members who do not speak English as their first language, we expect everyone to make an effort to post in a manner that allows others to understand their posts. As an international  forum we have members from many countries in the world, and English is not the first language of every poster.

[NoDisplayName]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

A US State Department representative stated that the US had persistently proposed resettlement solutions for the Uyghurs, involving various countries, including possible resettlement within the United States.

 

Parse the statement.

 

The US never offered resettlement anywhere.....just vague proposed possibilities.

 

You can be shirley, if there was a definite offer, it would have been mentioned.

[MikeandDow]

13 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Parse the statement.

 

The US never offered resettlement anywhere.....just vague proposed possibilities.

 

You can be shirley, if there was a definite offer, it would have been mentioned.

You need to research before you post, there were offers not only from the US!  "why"  is the question, were they not taken up.  answer,  because they were blocked by Thailand !!  the relevent agency were not allowed access to the Uyghurs

[NoDisplayName]

4 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

You need to research before you post, there were offers not only from the US!  "why"  is the question, were they not taken up.  answer,  because they were blocked by Thailand !!  the relevent agency were not allowed access to the Uyghurs

 

Details, please.

What offers?

[MikeandDow]

1 minute ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Details, please.

What offers?

you dont have google ??

[NoDisplayName]

2 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

you dont have google ??

 

That's what I thought.

You have a talking point.

"Proposed" and "possible" is not definite.

Why wouldn't the State Department mention even one of those real offers?

[MikeandDow]

1 hour ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

That's what I thought.

You have a talking point.

"Proposed" and "possible" is not definite.

Why wouldn't the State Department mention even one of those real offers?

The US offered to resettle the 48 Uyghurs, an official from the US state department said.

“The United States has worked with Thailand for years to avoid this situation, including by consistently and repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs in other countries, including, at one point, the United States,” the US official said, asking not to be named.

Canada also offered asylum to the detained Uyghurs, said four sources, including diplomats and people with direct knowledge. Two of these sources said another offer came from Australia.

These proposals, which the sources said were not taken forward by Thailand over fears of a falling-out with China, have not been previously reported.

UNHCR, in a statement released on February 27, said: “The agency repeatedly sought access to the group and assurances from Thai authorities that these individuals, who had expressed a fear of return, would not be deported. No such access was granted,

Vice Foreign Minister Russ Jalichandra said in a statement. It would have exposed Thailand to “retaliation from China that would impact the livelihoods of many Thais,” Thailand 24 provinces of china

Thailand would Not give access

simple google search

 

[thesetat]

10 hours ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

 

The Thai POV seems more plausible and less hypocritical than the US State Depts in today's toxic world politics.

Ohh come one... The Thai said it was unrealistic because of the repercussions it would face from China.. Can you not understand this in the story/?

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's vice minister for foreign affairs, labelled the third-country offers as "unrealistic," expressing concerns about potential repercussions from China that might affect Thailand's economy.

 They said the offers were unrealistic simply because they worry China will retaliate at Thailand for allowing them to be sent to other countries. 

[NoDisplayName]

34 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

an official from the US state department said

 

34 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

the US official said, asking not to be named

 

35 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

said four sources, including diplomats and people with direct knowledge

 

35 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

the sources said

 

Ooooooooh!  Anonymous sources said it!

 

[GammaGlobulin]

No worries:

 

Just send them to NYC....

 

Case closed.

 

America has plenty of military jet transport aircraft.

 

We could transport all to America within a matter of just a few weeks.

 

I would back this plan!

 

 

Let us, the USA, welcome anyone that Thailand chooses to export to China.....

 

Case Closed....in a Good Way.....!!!!!

 

NYC needs more immigrants, of Higher Quality....

 

And, IMHO, the WEEGERS are a very nice bunch of people....

 

 

Nice, no matter how you spell them....

 

 

 

[Silencer]

Wonder if Thailand will be voted off the UN Human Rights Council that they were just elected to and joined in Jan, 2025? If you are going to choose returning Chinese asylum seekers to China (and detain them for 11 years, without processing them!), why were they ever voted on in the first place. 

[Dan747]

“We have worked with Thailand for years to avoid this situation, including by consistently and repeatedly offering to resettle the Uyghurs in other countries, including, at times, the United States,” the State Department said in response to questions from The Associated Press.

 

Earlier this week, Thailand’s Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Russ Jalichandra said there had been no serious offers to take the men.

 

[Somjot]

That is so hilarious.

The US delivered most of the weapons and bombs which have been used in a mass murder (I don't want to use the G word some members here tend to get blood pressure problems when reading it) which is taking place since almost one and a half year and has led to almost 50,000 people, most of them women and children being unalived ( what a stupid word), the destruction of entire blocks and land robbery which is still taking place every day.

 

And now with a straight face they seriously are criticizing Thailand for deporting a few people??

 

that's impudence on a whole new level