Thai officials have defended their deportation of 40 Uyghurs to China despite warnings the ethnic minorities may possibly face torture or death.

The country's government, under the influence of Sinophile Thaksin Shinawatra, on Thursday, February 27, repatriated 40 Uyghur men to China's Xinjiang province after detaining them in the country for more than 10 years over illegal entry charges.

Communist rogue state China has been accused of genocide against the Uyghurs, a Muslim minority in Xinjiang, through mass internment camps, forced labor, surveillance, and cultural suppression.

Reports from human rights organisations and governments indicate widespread abuses, including forced sterilisations, family separations, and religious persecution, which Beijing denies, claiming its actions are counterterrorism measures.

But Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said the deportation was carried out 'in accordance with international procedures' after concerns were raised by the United States and United Nations.

He said: 'These individuals have not committed any serious crimes. If they are returned, they will be well taken care of and provided with employment.

'The Thai government will travel to continuously monitor their living conditions. During the first seven days, Mr. Thawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice, will personally travel to oversee the situation.'

The Uyghurs were reportedly transported in several trucks with the windows obscured by black plastic. The vehicles were said to have left Bangkok's immigration detention centre early February 27 morning. An unscheduled China Southern Airlines flight was logged hours later leaving Bangkok for Xinjiang province.

It is Thailand's second mass deportation of Uyghurs since 2015.

Despite backlash from the Western world, the Thai defence minister said Thailand 'should be commended for managing this problem'.

He added: 'This is done out of goodwill of the Thai government and not ill intent. It is a good thing to get them out of detention so they can return to their normal lives with relatives, husbands, wives and children.'

The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group native to Xinjiang, China, where they have faced increasing government repression, including mass surveillance, forced assimilation, and internment in so-called 're-education camps.'

Beijing claims its actions are necessary to combat separatism and terrorism, while human rights organisations and foreign governments have condemned them as cultural genocide and crimes against humanity.