The Biden administration may not allow government officials or representatives to attend the 2022 Beijing Olympics. It is in response to human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party.
Summary
The United States is expected to announce a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics this week.
- The boycott, because of a variety of human rights issues in China, wouldn’t impact any athletes but would prevent “government officials or dignitaries from attending the Games.”
- China has been under pressure since earlier this year after groups representing populations oppressed by China called for a full boycott.
- China is threatening “countermeasures” if the United States follows through with its diplomatic boycott of the games.
- Officials in Beijing are accusing the United States of interfering “in its internal affairs.”
- CNN characterized the coming diplomatic boycott a “move [that] would allow the US to send a message” to China without interfering with athletes’ ability to compete.
- The Washington Post reported on Chinese pressure on American and international companies to speak out against a boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
- NBC News noted calls for a boycott have grown since the disappearance of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai after she alleged a former Communist Party official sexually assaulted her.
- The Washington Examiner reported on Congressman Anthony Gonzalez, also a former professional athlete, calling a diplomatic boycott a “no-brainer”, saying America has a responsibility to rebuke “the way the Chinese Communist Party abuses their own people.”
- Fox News has not yet reported on the Biden administration’s possible boycott but highlighted criticism of the NBA and the International Olympic Committee for not speaking up about China’s treatment of Peng Shuai.
- OANN ran a Reuters wire report which mentioned the White House has been considering the boycott since at least last month.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
