Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya commented that the Thai government’s repatriation of 40 detained Uyghurs to China was “deeply regrettable”. News outlets from all over the world are reporting on this news at the same time, but of course the reporting stances of China and Western countries are extremely symmetrical.
Xinhua news coverage
The summary of the article by Xinhua News Agency, the People’s Republic of China’s state-run news agency, “40 Chinese nationals repatriated from Thailand in joint crackdown on illegal immigration” is as follows: (There is no mention that the people in question are Uighurs.)
On February 27, 2025, China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced the repatriation of 40 Chinese nationals from Thailand, who had been involved in illegal immigration. This coordinated operation was part of ongoing efforts by both China and Thailand to combat cross-border crime and protect the legitimate rights of Chinese citizens.
The individuals had been deceived by criminal organizations into illegally crossing borders and were stranded in Thailand. Their families had repeatedly sought government assistance for their return. Throughout the process, their legal rights were fully protected, and they will receive support for reintegration into society once legal procedures are completed.
This repatriation reflects the growing cooperation between China and Thailand in tackling transnational crimes, such as telecommunications and internet fraud. Both countries have committed to strengthening law enforcement cooperation to safeguard citizens’ rights and ensure regional stability.
Additionally, China’s National Immigration Administration reaffirmed its strong opposition to illegal immigration and vowed to continue cracking down on cross-border crime, holding those responsible for organizing illegal immigration accountable, while enhancing cooperation with other countries’ authorities.
BBC coverage
On the other hand, on behalf of the Western press, the following is a summary of the British BBC’s article, “Thailand deports dozens of Uyghurs to China”.
Thai authorities have confirmed that at least 40 Uyghurs were deported to China after being held in a Bangkok detention center for over 10 years. The group was flown back to China’s Xinjiang region on Thursday. The deportation has raised serious concerns from human rights groups, the United States, and the United Nations, as the Uyghurs face potential torture and persecution in China. Thailand justified the deportation by stating that the individuals had been detained for too long, and no third country offered to take them in.
The Uyghurs were initially detained in 2014 after fleeing repression in Xinjiang. Some were sent to Turkey, while others were deported to China in 2015, sparking international protests. Human rights organizations have condemned the deportations, calling them a violation of both Thai and international laws. The US, EU, and UK have strongly criticized the move, citing concerns over China’s treatment of Uyghur Muslims, which includes accusations of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Are there any Uyghurs among those recognized as refugees in Japan?
By the way, according to an announcement by the Immigration Services Agency, in the five years since 2019, 0>11>18>9>5 of those recognized as refugees were of Chinese nationality, and the majority of these were related to the Uighur ethnic group. Although the name of the country is not listed in the annual list of cases where people have been recognized as refugees, even in Japan, where the recognition rate is extremely low compared to other countries, there seems to be a certain tendency for people to be recognized as refugees because they are Uyghurs.