Thai Delegation Arrives in China for Uyghur Meeting amid Tensions

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 

In a recent controversial move, Thai officials are making their way to the Xinjiang region of China, aiming to meet a select number of Uyghurs deported from Thailand. The group led by Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechachai, together with Justice Minister Tawee Sodswong and senior military officials, is set to engage with only a fraction of the deported individuals, precisely five out of the 40 sent back to China on 27th February.

 

The deportation, shrouded in secrecy and conducted under the cover of dawn, has sparked widespread criticism from international bodies. Concerns for the Uyghurs arose after the United Nations human rights experts cautioned against the risk of torture and ill-treatment that deportees might face upon their return to China.

 

The incident has furthermore invited diplomatic repercussions, with the United States imposing visa restrictions on unnamed Thai officials, while the European Parliament has called for leveraging free trade discussions to avert future occurrences.

 

Rights organisations have long accused Beijing of perpetrating human rights violations against the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority of approximately 10 million inhabitants in Xinjiang. China, however, sharply rebuffs these allegations, asserting that they stem from unfounded accusations by Western nations.

 

 

 

During their visit, the Thai delegation will receive a concise briefing by representatives from the Xinjiang autonomous region and are scheduled to return home by Thursday. This comes as Thailand continues to reiterate that it procured formal assurances from China regarding the welfare of the Uyghurs.

 

In an effort to underline transparency, Mr. Phumtham, who also holds the position of defence minister, emphasised the absence of any ulterior motives behind the delegation’s visit. According to government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub, this visit aims to showcase Thailand's direct and honest approach, clearing any misconceptions about refugees being deported under covert agendas.

 

Interestingly, countries like Canada and the United States had reportedly extended offers to resettle the deported Uyghurs. Despite such proposals, Thailand chose to proceed with the deportation, citing potential retaliatory measures from Beijing as a key deterrent, as explained by Russ Jalichandra, the vice minister for foreign affairs.

 

As the Thai delegation attempts to navigate the diplomatic intricacies of this matter, observers worldwide are keenly watching, eager to see how this visit might impact future interactions between China and Thailand. The case of the deported Uyghurs continues to highlight the complex interplay between international human rights obligations and geopolitical alliances, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-19

 

 

[JoePai]

Let me take a wild guess - they will find them all being looked after well in 5 star accommodation    🤣

[Woke to Sounds]

44 minutes ago, webfact said:

Interestingly, countries like Canada and the United States had reportedly extended offers to resettle the deported Uyghurs.

 

Ever hear of well dressed window mannequins? Sure look nice from the outside.

 

Kudos to Canada and the USA for stepping up.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

 

Pantomime 

[Geoffggi]

Nothing but a dog & pony show

[MikeandDow]

All PR BS      only meeting 5 out of the 40 WHY!!  where are the rest ??  Shame on you Thailand

[YayaManos]

Can they be as naive as that?

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

aiming to meet a select number of Uyghurs deported from Thailand.

 

Hmm. Are the rest dead already?

If the Thais were serious about any of this, they would insist on meeting ALL of the deportees.

But, it's just a dog and pony show. 

[watchcat]

27 minutes ago, MikeandDow said:

All PR BS      only meeting 5 out of the 40 WHY!!  where are the rest ??  Shame on you Thailand

 

They could only afford  five 5-hais star accommodation rooms  but the Thais got a free holliday.