BANGKOK — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra firmly denied allegations of a trade deal with China in exchange for repatriating Uyghur detainees, emphasizing that “people are not commodities.”
During a press conference at Government House on Thursday, Shinawatra addressed international criticism from the United States and European countries regarding Thailand’s recent decision to return a group of Uyghurs to China.
“We have thoroughly examined what could be done in this situation,” the Prime Minister stated. “These Uyghur individuals entered Thailand illegally and have been imprisoned here for 11 years, which is a considerable punishment. Throughout this period, no third country ever contacted us offering to accept these individuals.”
Shinawatra explained that Chinese authorities provided evidence confirming the detainees were Chinese citizens. “If they were from any other country and we could verify their nationality, we would return them to that country. We have not violated any United Nations regulations or human rights principles,” she insisted.
The Prime Minister revealed that the Thai government received assurances from Chinese officials that the repatriated Uyghurs would not face prosecution or interrogation upon their return and would be allowed to reunite with their families and reintegrate into society.
“This matter has been discussed between our governments for some time. With proper management from both countries, we can ensure the safety of these Uyghur individuals,” Shinawatra said. “There may have been mishandling in the past, but during my official visit to China, I discussed this with leaders at various levels who guaranteed Thailand that everyone returning would be safe. Otherwise, we certainly would not have proceeded with the repatriation.”
She added, “You may have seen images of the Uyghurs embracing their family members, which is a positive development. Furthermore, Chinese authorities have permitted us to visit or inquire about their well-being. They are not restricting access in this regard.”
When questioned about criticism suggesting the repatriation was linked to trade benefits with China, the Prime Minister firmly denied such allegations: “Absolutely not. There is no trade exchange whatsoever connected to the repatriation of Uyghurs. These matters are entirely separate. If we wanted to discuss trade, we would address trade specifically. This involves people, not merchandise. People are not commodities to be exchanged.”
Regarding why she did not immediately confirm the repatriation when questioned the previous day, Shinawatra explained it was related to security protocols and international diplomatic procedures regarding which country would make the announcement first. “This is a matter of national security that cannot be addressed with just a few words. It requires proper explanation.”
The Prime Minister confirmed that all Uyghurs returned voluntarily, though she was uncertain about specific documentation. She emphasized that the government prioritized their safety throughout the process.
Addressing concerns about potential impacts on Thailand’s relationships with Muslim countries, Shinawatra acknowledged that time would be needed for explanation, but pointed to the safe return of the Uyghurs as evidence of Thailand’s careful handling of the situation.
“We need to see if they remain safe after returning, which appears to be the case. This should indicate that Thailand has coordinated thoroughly behind the scenes. If we weren’t certain of their safety, we wouldn’t have proceeded. If anything happened to them after their return, I couldn’t accept that either. We understand that we are all human beings, so we had to be absolutely certain before taking this action,” she concluded.
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