DEFENDING DEMOCRACY IN EXILE Policy Responses to Transnational Repression Thailand has strong economic interests in maintaining a positive relationship with China, one of the most notorious perpetrators of transnational repression.16 In the past, Thai authorities have accepted guarantees of safety made by China when returning groups of individuals, including Uyghurs, who A major risk factor for transnational repression is Thailand’s formal and informal cooperation with other countries. 4 @FreedomHouse have fled the country.17 Concerningly, Thailand’s 2019 National Security Plan calls for “developing and promoting collaborative network with immigrants’ country of origin and relevant international organizations for the prevention and resolution of illegal immigrant problems.” 18 This could mean that origin states of transnational repression could have disproportionate influence on the assessment of whether a person who has fled to Thailand is entitled to protection. At the same time, Thailand’s government appears to be sensitive to international criticism in certain cases of transnational targeting.19 In December 2021 and February 2022, respectively, Thai authorities chose not to deport Cambodian government critic Venerable Bor Bet and Lao activist Keomanivong Khoukham20 after civil society organizations mounted campaigns urging that they be allowed to remain in Thailand. #TransnationalRepression