The United States and its allies are considering a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing over concerns about China’s human rights record, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal..
The newspaper reported on Tuesday that the Biden administration is in talks with allies, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, about the possibility of sending a delegation of lower-level officials to the Games instead of high-ranking diplomats..
The move would be a significant escalation of international pressure on China, which has been accused of genocide against the Uyghur Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region, as well as a crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong..
The Biden administration has already taken a number of steps to punish China for its human rights abuses, including sanctions against Chinese officials and companies. However, a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics would be a much more visible and symbolic gesture..
The newspaper reported that the talks are still in the early stages, and no final decision has been made. However, the move is being seriously considered, and it would be a major blow to China, which is eager to use the Games to showcase its economic and political power..
The 2022 Winter Olympics are scheduled to be held from February 4 to 20, 2022, in Beijing. The city will be the first to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics..
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said that it is aware of the concerns about China’s human rights record, but it has not yet taken any action. The IOC has a long-standing policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of host countries..
However, the IOC has been under increasing pressure to take action on human rights issues. In 2016, the IOC suspended the Kuwait Olympic Committee for government interference in sports..
It is unclear whether the IOC would take similar action against China. However, the diplomatic boycott by the US and its allies would put the IOC under even more pressure to act..
The US and its allies are not the only countries that are considering a diplomatic boycott of the Olympics. Norway, Denmark and Sweden have also said that they are considering the move..
If a diplomatic boycott does take place, it would be a major embarrassment for China. It would also be a sign that the international community is increasingly concerned about China’s human rights record..
