BANGKOK -- A photo of a beaming Phumtham Wechayachai, Thailand's defense minister, embracing a Uyghur family circulated this week as he led a high-level delegation to China, where the Thai government last month deported 40 men despite international condemnation.
The Thai government on Friday claimed the group were living in good conditions in Xinjiang, after cabinet ministers, including Phumtham, returned early in the morning.
