U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who is set to take over the State Department under the incoming Trump administration, has pledged to advocate on behalf of 48 Uyghur ethnic minorities detained in Thailand on immigration charges. Rubio aims to prevent their deportation back to China, where rights groups believe they would face persecution.
The Florida Republican’s commitment emphasizes the potential influence he could wield in the next four years over the relationship between the U.S. and China, a relationship that is currently experiencing turbulence. This comes in the wake of incoming President Donald Trump’s threats to impose extensive tariffs on Chinese exports once he takes office.
The issue was brought to the forefront during a Senate hearing to confirm Rubio’s appointment as the top American envoy. Rubio, known for his hardline stance on China, responded to a question posed by Senator Jeff Merkley about the predicament of the Uyghurs in Thailand.
Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, queried whether Rubio would lobby for the Thai government to refrain from deporting the Uyghurs back to China, where they would likely face severe persecution. Rubio assured him he would.
Rubio expressed optimism about the situation, citing Thailand’s strong alliance with the U.S. as a potential avenue for successful diplomatic intervention. He also used the opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing persecution of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region where, since 2017, an estimated 1.8 million members of this ethnic minority have been detained in internment camps.
The 48 Uyghurs in question have been held at Thailand’s Immigration Detention Center since 2014 after attempting to flee China. According to the U.S.-based advocacy group, Campaign for Uyghurs, they have been subjected to harsh conditions, denied legal or social contact, and have been refused access to healthcare.
In response to potential deportation threats, the Uyghur detainees initiated a hunger strike on January 10, appealing for international support to prevent their return to China. The advocacy group, Campaign for Uyghurs, warned that deporting the Uyghurs would breach Thailand’s obligations under the Convention Against Torture and its Anti-Torture Act.
Despite concerns about potential forced repatriation, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) reported that they received news that the Uyghurs are not currently at immediate risk of deportation. The WUC has been coordinating efforts with various international bodies to secure the detainees’ release.
The WUC is organizing protests in front of Thai embassies in multiple countries, demanding the release of the Uyghurs to a third, free country and calling for an end to their unjust detention in Thailand.
