28-2-2025 (BANGKOK) Thai officials convened an emergency press briefing yesterday to address the contentious repatriation of Uyghur nationals who had been held in Thailand for a decade. The announcement comes amidst international scrutiny over potential human rights implications.
Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai fronted the briefing alongside Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, outlining the government’s position on a matter that has lingered unresolved for ten years.
The Chinese government has provided assurances that the 45 individuals—detained since their unlawful entry into Thailand—will face only minor charges related to their unauthorised departure from China. Beijing has expressly guaranteed their safety upon return, with officials emphasising that no evidence links these individuals to serious criminal activity.
“Thailand has shouldered this responsibility for over a decade, housing these individuals in woefully cramped detention facilities without receiving understanding or support from the international community,” explained one senior official at the briefing.
In what appears to be an unprecedented gesture of transparency, Chinese authorities have invited Thai representatives to observe the repatriation process and conduct periodic welfare checks—a move intended to verify that returnees are safely reunited with their families and able to resume ordinary lives.
Chinese diplomatic channels, including both the Foreign Ministry and Consulate, have pledged to issue formal documentation confirming their commitment to the returnees’ safety and wellbeing.
The Thai government stressed that their decision reflects sovereign prerogative, whilst adhering to domestic legal frameworks and international principles, particularly the non-refoulement doctrine prohibiting the return of individuals to circumstances where they might face persecution.
“This is not Thailand’s issue to resolve, yet we have borne the responsibility for these individuals for a decade,” remarked a Thai official. “Their continued detention in substandard conditions itself constitutes a human rights concern that requires resolution.”
Following the announcement, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand confirmed via social media that 40 Chinese nationals had already been transported to China aboard a chartered flight operated by China’s Civil Aviation authority. The Embassy characterised the transfer as exemplary bilateral cooperation addressing illegal immigration whilst protecting citizens’ rights according to both countries’ legal frameworks and international norms.
Chinese authorities noted that despite the “complex international factors” that prolonged the detention, immigration officials have now completed the necessary legal procedures to facilitate their return, with promises of “strict, fair and civilised” treatment under Chinese law.