Thailand Says It Sent Uyghurs Back to China to Avoid Backlash from Beijing

Thailand defended its deportation of 40 Uyghur detainees to China last week as the “best solution” to avoid a backlash from Beijing, after a rights group said the move violated international law and the returnees could face torture.

Russ Jalichandra, vice minister of foreign affairs for Thailand, said the return was in the interests of his country. Although some nations had proposed to grant asylum to the Uyghurs, none had shown “resolute determination” to negotiate with Beijing for it to happen, Russ said in the statement on Thursday.