Chinese authorities closely monitored Thai journalists during a controlled visit to Xinjiang, requiring them to submit photos for review and delete unapproved images before sending them back to Thailand. The visit was part of China’s effort to showcase the welfare of Uyghurs deported from Thailand last month.
On February 27, Thailand deported 40 Uyghur men to Xinjiang, claiming no third country had accepted them and that China had assured their safety. However, U.S. officials later confirmed that the U.S. and other nations had offered to resettle them. The deportation, involving Uyghurs who had fled persecution and were detained in Thailand for over a decade, sparked international condemnation.
In response, China invited Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and journalists for a three-day visit to Kashgar. However, reporters faced strict surveillance. Thai-language daily Thairath news director Pranot Vilapasuwan revealed that security officials monitored them closely and screened images before transmission. Journalists were instructed not to photograph Chinese officials and to blur the faces of Uyghurs.
Human Rights Watch senior researcher Sunai Phasuk condemned the visit as a staged attempt to control the narrative. “Thailand is parroting China’s propaganda and collaborating in crimes against Uyghurs,” Sunai stated.
The deportation of Uyghurs remains a contentious issue, with critics accusing Thailand of aiding China’s repression. Meanwhile, China continues efforts to counter global criticism of its policies in Xinjiang.
