Thai court dismisses detention challenge by Chinese journalist sought by Beijing

A Thai court on Friday dismissed a challenge by a Chinese investigative journalist over his prolonged detention in Bangkok, a day after authorities began proceedings to extradite him to China, his lawyer said.

An immigration detention centre in Bangkok on January 22, 2025. File photo: Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP.

Bai Zhaodong, who is recognised by the United Nations as a refugee, left China in 2023 and arrived the following year in Thailand.

The 56-year-old had been detained at a Bangkok immigration centre since January, and he earlier filed a petition against what he said was unlawful detention by Thai immigration authorities.

On Thursday, Thai prosecutors arrested Bai under an extradition warrant issued by Beijing and moved him to a remand prison.

At a hearing on Friday morning, which was scheduled weeks earlier, Bangkok South Criminal Court rejected Bai’s challenge against his detention, according to his lawyer.

“Because there is an extradition request from China saying he is wanted in China, the (court ruled that) detention is necessary,” Nadthasiri Bergman told AFP.

Bai was not in court on Friday but is expected to appear at a January 25 hearing in the extradition case.

China’s foreign ministry said in July that Bai was suspected of extortion and bribery, and an extradition request had been submitted to Thailand.

Bergman said the Chinese embassy in Bangkok sent a letter to the Thai Immigration Office in June 2025 asking to extradite Bai, while an official request dated March 4, 2026 was sent to the Office of the Attorney General.

‘Trumped up charges’

Rights campaigners believe Bai’s life could be at risk if he is returned to China, saying he faced growing persecution over two decades of work exposing government corruption.

“Free Bai Zhaodong” poster. Photo: Reporters Without Borders.

An undisclosed third country has offered Bai asylum but two attempts to travel there were cancelled this year after Thai immigration authorities withheld exit clearance without explanation, his legal team says.

Reporters Without Borders has called his treatment “scandalous” while Maya Wang, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said the move to extradite Bai was “deeply troubling”.

“Thailand should not succumb to pressure from Beijing to extradite Bai based on trumped up charges,” she said.

Beijing has long sought to clamp down on dissidents overseas, and campaigners accuse authorities in Thailand of complicity.

The Thai foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Thailand is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention, but is bound by the international legal principle of non-refoulement, which bars countries from sending people back to places where their lives or freedom are in danger.