US announces diplomatic boycott of forthcoming Beijing Winter Olympics

The Biden administration has announced that it will not send government officials to the Winter Olympics in China in February 2022. The White House confirmed last Monday (6 December) that no US government officials and high-ranking diplomats will be present in China during the Olympics.

Both Democrats and the Republicans in Congress have previously urged a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics, partly due to human rights abuses against the country's Uyghur minority in Northwest China. American athletes participating in the Olympics will receive the government's full support. 

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics is scheduled for 4 February and the closing ceremony will take place on 20 February 2022.

In mid-November, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a diplomatic boycott. Australia and the United Kingdom are also considering keeping their government representatives at home. Governments usually send an extensive delegation of high-ranking diplomats to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. 

China has already announced that it will retaliate against a boycott. The absence of an official delegation is a "downright political provocation", said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Zhao Lijian, who did not elaborate on the possible retaliatory actions.

 

source: commonspace.eu with agencies
photo: The logo of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Reuters

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region was quoted by AP on Monday saying that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it, one of four regions Russia annexed from Ukraine in September 2022. If confirmed, it would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war with international peace efforts led by the US failing to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from his demands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions. 

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia

A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine’s occupied Luhansk region was quoted by AP on Monday saying that Moscow’s forces have overrun all of it, one of four regions Russia annexed from Ukraine in September 2022. If confirmed, it would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war with international peace efforts led by the US failing to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn’t budged from his demands, which include Moscow’s control over the four illegally annexed regions.