Thailand’s repatriation of Uyghurs signals tilt toward China, analysts say

Thailand’s decision to deport 40 Uyghurs to China indicates that it sees the benefits of strengthening relations with China as worth the risk of incurring the anger of old ally the United States, analysts said on Friday.

The U.S. condemned Thailand for deporting the 40 ethnic Uyghurs to China on Thursday, warning that the men risked torture when they returned to the northeastern region of Xinjiang, which they had fled more than 10 years ago.

But Thailand defended the decision, saying it had received an “official request” from China and only sent the men back after assurances from the “highest level” of the Chinese government on their safety.

The United States had earlier made a request that the Uyghurs not be sent back to China. Marco Rubio had called directly on Thailand not to deport them at his Jan. 15 confirmation hearing to become secretary of state.

Thai political analyst and former government adviser Panitan Wattanayagorn said Thailand’s decision to send the Uyghurs back after Rubio’s request carried risks.

“It now looks like Thailand has turned its back on them,” Panitan told BenarNews, referring to the United States.

“So, we must be prepared for the consequences.”

Thailand is the only U.S. treaty partner in mainland Southeast Asia and their relationship stretches back 200 years. The kingdom was a stalwart U.S. ally throughout the Cold War but Thailand has also developed strong ties with China, the region’s dominant economic player.

China is among Thailand’s top trading partners and foreign investors, and the kingdom’s main source of foreign tourists. Panitan said the decision to send the Uyghurs back signaled a drive by Thailand for closer ties with China at the expense of relations with the U.S.

“This government seems to have reduced the space with China while significantly widening it with America. It’s dangerous,” said Panitan.

Dulyapak Preecharush, assistant professor of Southeast Asian Studies at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, said the deportation should be seen in the context of cooperation between the government of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and China on the suppression of online scam centers in eastern Myanmar.

Chinese President Xi Jinping thanked the prime minister for helping with the crackdown when she visited Beijing on Feb. 6, while Liu Zhongyi, assistant minister at China’s Ministry of Public Security, visited Thailand to help coordinate it.

“The deportation may indicate that Thailand is leaning more toward China than the United States, especially since the prime minister’s visit to China and the Chinese minister’s trip to Thailand to direct the suppression of scam centers, reflecting deepening cooperation,” Dulyapak said.

The Thai foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on relations with China and the United States by the time of publication.

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Rubio’s ‘strongest’ condemnation

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, who is also minister of defense, said Thailand had discussed the decision with the U.S.

“The government has explained to several Western countries, including the United States, which had discussions with me, confirming that Thailand would act according to its sovereignty and laws while also considering international principles and international law to avoid making mistakes,” he told reporters.

But Rubio’s condemnation, “in the strongest possible terms,” was unusually forthright and Panitan said it indicated Thailand should beware.

“The government might think they can negotiate with the United States, and it won’t make this a condition, but the fact that the U.S. government has strongly condemned it is a dangerous signal,” he said.

“It could become a factor for imposing trade sanctions against us, or the secretary of state might downgrade our ranking in the TIP report,” he said, referring to the State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons report.

Thailand was kept on the Tier 2 Watch List for the third year in 2024, reflecting progress in combating human trafficking.

Dulyapak said Thailand had to explain its decision, not only to the United States but to Muslim countries too, to try to maintain its relations.

“What needs to be done is to clearly explain the reasons for this, especially since the current U.S. secretary of state has been closely following the Uyghur issue for so long … to help them understand the reasons and necessity behind it,” he said.

“Thailand can’t just let this issue quietly fade away.”

Pimuk Rakkanam and Jon Preechawong in Bangkok contributed to this report.