The State Department said it was “combating China’s efforts to pressure governments to forcibly return Uyghurs and other groups to China.”

A delegation from the Thai government will visit China this week to check on the welfare of dozens of Uighur refugees after their controversial deportation drew global condemnation and US travel sanctions on Thai officials.

The U.S. State Department has announced sanctions on an unknown number of current and former Thai officials for their role in deporting at least 40 Uyghur men to China despite worries that they could be jailed or even face death there.