Thailand has defended its move to return 40 Uighurs to China in February, saying it has received assurances from Beijing about their safety and integration back into society. The visit by Thai officials is part of a deal struck by Bangkok with the Chinese authorities when it agreed to send the Uighurs back after a decade in detention.

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

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.