BEIJING – China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended Thailand in response to the United States imposing visa restrictions on Thai officials over the deportation of Uighur nationals back to China, March 18. The spokesperson emphasized that this action was a joint effort between China and Thailand to combat illegal immigration and border-crossing activities, asserting that the U.S. has no right to intervene.
The statement followed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement of visa sanctions and other punitive measures against Thai officials involved in the deportation of at least 40 Uighur individuals to China. This move came after Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its commitment to humanitarian principles in handling the deportation of Chinese citizens and stressed that Thailand-U.S. relations should be based on mutual respect.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning emphasized that the deportation was in line with both countries’ laws and international practices. She also highlighted that the 40 Chinese nationals had been detained in Thailand for over a decade after being caught for illegal immigration. The Chinese government has a responsibility to protect its citizens and help them reunite with their families and return to a normal life.
Mao Ning criticized the U.S. for trying to politicize the issue with a double standard, noting that the U.S. had deported over 270,000 illegal immigrants from 192 countries in fiscal year 2024, a record high since 2014. She condemned the U.S. for unfairly targeting and pressuring countries like Thailand that are cooperating to enforce immigration laws.
The Chinese spokesperson reiterated that China strongly opposes the U.S.’s use of human rights as a pretext to distort issues related to Xinjiang, interfere in China’s internal affairs, and disrupt lawful cooperation between China and other nations on law enforcement matters. China pledged to enhance communication and cooperation with relevant countries on the basis of mutual respect, equal consultation, and the protection of citizens’ rights and interests.
