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“The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic games given the [People’s Republic of China’s] ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses,” Psaki said at a Monday briefing.
She continued: “The athletes on team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home. We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games.”
The games begin Feb. 4 and close Feb. 20.
Even before the U.S. boycott was officially confirmed, Beijing had already threatened “firm countermeasures.”
Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry told reporters Monday that the move would be an “outright political provocation,“according to the AP, though he offered no details on how his country might issue payback for a diplomatic boycott.
China has the ability to influence much of Biden’s agenda. Issues like the supply chain problems, climate change and U.S. policy toward North Korea, Iran and other geopolitically sensitive areas are interconnected with Asia’s most powerful nation.
“Without being invited, American politicians keep hyping the so-called diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, which is purely wishful thinking and grandstanding,” Zhao said during a press briefing.
Biden previously said in November his administration wasconsidering a boycott— not long after a virtual summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Officials said that meeting, which lasted more than three hours, was “respectful and straightforward” but the leaders of the world’s two biggest economies didn’t reach any major breakthroughs.
One senior administrationofficial told CNNthe men had a “healthy debate” in November, and Biden raised his concerns about human rights, trade and Taiwan.
Officials also said that Xi didn’t take the opportunity to personally invite the U.S. president to the Winter Olympics in China.
Zhao also said Monday the potential boycott would be “a stain on the spirit of the Olympic charter.”
source: people.com
