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Diplomacy
ChinaDiplomacy

China lashes out over boycott calls that ‘politicise’ Beijing Winter Olympics

  • It follows US State Department walking back remark that it is discussing a possible joint boycott with allies
  • Calls have been driven by concerns over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which Beijing again denied

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A sculpture of figure skaters for the 2022 Winter Olympics at a park in Beijing. There have been growing calls in the US to boycott the Games over human rights concerns. Photo: Reuters
Holly ChikandCatherine Wong
China has condemned calls in the United States to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns, saying it is a move to politicise sports that will fail and only harm the athletes.

“This so-called boycott politicises the Games and goes against the Olympic spirit. It will only hurt the interests of the athletes and the work of the International Olympic Committee,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters on Wednesday. “It will not receive support from the international community, including from the US Olympic Committee.”

He made the remarks after the US State Department denied it was discussing with allies a possible joint boycott of the Winter Olympics in China next year.

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China lashes out over boycott calls that ‘politicise’ Beijing Winter Olympics

China lashes out over boycott calls that ‘politicise’ Beijing Winter Olympics
There have been growing calls from lawmakers and advocacy groups in the US to back away from the Games in February because of alleged human rights abuses against Uygurs and other Muslim minority groups in China’s Xinjiang region - allegations Beijing again denied on Wednesday.

“The claim that there is genocide in Xinjiang is the lie of the century,” Zhao said. “We have clarified on many occasions but the US has turned a blind eye to the facts and discredited China based on lies.”

He added that Beijing was confident about working with all parties to hold a successful Winter Olympics.

It came after US State Department spokesman Ned Price clarified on Tuesday that Washington had no announcement to make on the Olympics and it would continue talks with allies to decide on a coordinated approach on China, after he earlier told reporters a joint boycott was possible.

“We will continue to consult closely with allies and partners to define our common concerns and establish our shared approach to [China],” he tweeted on Tuesday, adding that “2022 remains a ways off”.

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