Thailand's Unannounced Deportation of Chinese Dissidents Fuels Fears of Becoming 'China's Province'

Human rights organizations are raising alarms over Thailand's recent actions, which appear to involve the unannounced deportation of Chinese dissidents back to China. These concerns have intensified following reports of close interactions between Thai and Chinese officials, including a meeting between Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Chinese President Xi Jinping where the "China-Thailand are one family" sentiment was reiterated.

“

The BBC report points out the most frightening detail: Tan Yixiang was deported in June, and no one knew, not even his own lawyer. A person just evaporated from Thailand like this.

Media personality Zhan Lingyu has voiced strong concerns, stating that the notion of Thailand becoming "one province of China" is transitioning from a jest to a stark reality. This sentiment is fueled by cases like that of Tan Yixiang, a Tibetan and Uyghur human rights activist, who was reportedly deported in June without prior notification to his lawyer or any public announcement. The lack of transparency and the alleged obstruction of legal processes, as seen in the case of Zhang Xinyan, a member of the "Hong Kong Parliament" group, further exacerbate these fears.

Zhang Xinyan was prevented from traveling to Canada, and her lawyer faced difficulties in initiating an investigation into the legality of her detention, with the court ultimately rejecting the lawyer's application. These incidents echo past concerns about Thailand's cooperation with China on dissident issues. Human rights observers point to a pattern where individuals, including Chinese journalists and dissidents, are allegedly handed over to Chinese authorities, raising fears about their fate upon return.

“

Zhang Xinyan's situation is even more absurd. Canada was willing to take her, and her travel plans for July 8 were already set. A letter arrived from China on July 7 to Bangkok, her trip was canceled, and she remains detained at the immigration detention center. Her freedom is not decided by Thailand, but by Beijing.

Zhan Lingyu highlighted a particularly disturbing detail: Tan Yixiang's deportation in June, which occurred without anyone's knowledge, not even his own lawyer. This suggests a concerning level of cooperation where individuals can seemingly "evaporate" from Thailand. The case of Zhang Xinyan is described as even more absurd, with her travel plans to Canada canceled after a letter from China arrived just a day before her scheduled departure, leaving her continued detention dictated by Beijing rather than Thai authorities.

“

This is 'selective accommodation.' It's not that Thailand cannot refuse, but Thailand has calculated that cooperating with China is the most cost-effective, as the price is almost zero.

This trend of "selective accommodation," as described by scholars, suggests Thailand perceives cooperation with China as the most beneficial course, with minimal perceived costs. Zhan Lingyu noted that over 1,000 Chinese citizens have been directly transported from Thai airports by Chinese charter flights since last year, bypassing Thai legal procedures, likening the process to "picking up goods." The commentator warns that Beijing's expanding extraterritorial jurisdiction, potentially through new laws like the "National Unity Promotion Law," could lead to a situation where China asserts authority over areas with Chinese populations abroad, turning Thailand into a "colonial subordinate," as accurately described by human rights advocate Sunai. The self-deprecating Thai term "Thailand Province" is increasingly seen as a reflection of this growing reality.

“

Sovereignty is sold in installments like this, selling a little at a time, and the balance sheet never hurts.