What we know today is that there are many countries around the world - including many of our closest allies - who share these concerns.” “We came to our decision based on the human rights abuses, including genocide and other crimes against humanity there, that are ongoing in general. “This is a sovereign decision that each country needs to make,” Price said. would welcome any other country choosing to follow Biden’s lead. State Department spokesman Ned Price suggested Monday that the U.S. politicians keep hyping a ‘diplomatic boycott’ without even being invited to the Games,” said Zhao, who called it “pure grandstanding” and a “grave travesty” against the Olympic spirit. “political posturing and manipulation” and promised “resolute countermeasures” in the event of any form of boycott, but did not elaborate. China strenuously denies the allegations.Įarlier Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian denounced what he called U.S. It’s not a decision we’re going to take lightly and as soon as we have made the decision we will communicate it to you.”Ĭhina has for years been subject to withering international condemnation for its crackdown on largely Muslim Uyghurs in the province of Xinjiang, ostensibly part of an anti-terrorism effort that critics say includes forced labour, birth control and even torture. “We are, of course, very preoccupied with the violations of human rights in China. “So far, a decision hasn’t been made,” St-Onge said. Later that same day, Trudeau equivocated when asked if Canada would follow suit, but also made it clear he too would be looking for a way to rebuke China without forcing Canadian athletes to sacrifice a long-awaited shot at an Olympic medal.Ĭanada’s minister of sport, Pascale St-Onge, did much the same thing Monday before question period. “We have a fundamental commitment to promoting human rights and we feel strongly in our position, and we will continue to take actions to advance human rights in China and beyond.”īiden made it clear last month, sitting in the Oval Office next to none other than Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, that he was contemplating the prospect of keeping diplomats and other government officials away from the Games Feb. “Standing up for human rights is in the DNA of Americans,” press secretary Jen Psaki told the daily briefing. The White House has been hinting for weeks at plans to send a strong message about China’s “egregious” record on human rights, particularly its treatment of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, without denying its athletes the chance to compete. The United States confirmed Monday it won’t be sending any diplomatic officials to the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year - and suggested strongly that it would welcome similar displays of international solidarity from countries around the world.