UN expert and rights groups urge Thailand not to deport journalist to China

A United Nations expert and dozens of press freedom and rights groups urged Thailand not to forcibly return detained Chinese investigative journalist Bai Zhaodong to China.

Andrea Bolanos Vargas, the UN special rapporteur on rights defenders, said Bai fled China in November 2023 after being persecuted and criminalised for exposing alleged large-scale corruption and financial fraud involving officials. Vargas is an independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council and does not speak on behalf of the UN.

Reporters Without Borders and nearly 60 other groups said Bai has been held in Thai immigration detention since January and faces an imminent risk of deportation. They said China issued an arrest warrant for Bai in September 2024 on what they called fabricated extortion charges, and said Thai authorities had since stopped him from moving to another country.

The groups warned that Bai faced a real risk of persecution in China. They said forcibly returning him would violate Thailand's obligations under international and domestic torture prohibitions, known as non-refoulement.

Vargas said she was alarmed by reports of an imminent deportation. She said Bai remained detained in Bangkok, was reportedly in poor health and lacked adequate medical care. She joined the groups in urging Thailand to allow him to travel to another country.

Thailand's foreign ministry declined to comment on Bai's case.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Bai was suspected of extortion and bribery and that an extradition request had been submitted. Lin said China hoped Thailand would extradite Bai soon.