US Sanctions Thai Officials for Deporting Uyghurs to China

The United States on March 14 announced visa restrictions on Thailand officials in response to the deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China, where the ethnic group has faced continued suppression. The sanction came several weeks after Thailand sent back the 40 Uyghurs held in its custody for more than a decade. It applies to Thai officials responsible for the deportation decision, as well as other current and former foreign officials who played a part in deporting Uyghurs and other ethnic or religious groups with “protection concerns” to China. “We are committed to combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China, where they are subject to torture and enforced disappearances,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement....