Thailand's recent repatriation of 109 illegal Chinese immigrants was justified and legal, as it was conducted in line with relevant international treaties and bilateral cooperative agreements, the Chinese embassy in Thailand said Tuesday.
The Chinese side strongly opposes any groundless accusations and the politicizing of the issue, the embassy told Xinhua.
Joint investigations by Chinese and Thai authorities found that those repatriated were not refugees, but illegal immigrants who engaged in illegal immigration and smuggling activities by holding counterfeit passports or via other channels, according to the embassy.
It was normal and above-board law-enforcement cooperation between Thailand and China, as well as their due international obligation, to have the illegal immigrants repatriated, it said.
Unwarranted criticism against China and Thailand, with ulterior motives, will by no means be accepted, the embassy said.
Some foreign governments and forces have overlooked the facts by incorrectly calling these illegal immigrants "refugees" and criticizing the law-enforcement cooperation between China and Thailand.
By doing so, they are not only condoning illegal immigration and smuggling activities, but also violating international treaties and laws, the embassy said.
"We also stand firmly against attempts by certain forces to politicize such issues, interfere in China's internal affairs via ethnic and religious issues and disrupt China's security and stability," the embassy said.
The international community has reached consensus on clamping down on illegal immigration, and China also has clear and consistent policies regarding the handling of people who sneak out of the country illegally, it said.
Suspects of severe crimes will be investigated and dealt with fairly, while those not guilty of criminal acts or only involved in minor offenses will be properly resettled, the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the embassy disclosed that at the invitation of the Chinese side, Secretary-General of Thailand's National Security Council Anusit Kunakorn is scheduled to lead a delegation to China on Wednesday.
During Anusit's visit, the two sides will compare notes on issues pertaining to bilateral law enforcement and the repatriated illegal immigrants, the embassy said.
