China responds to US political boycott of Olympics with ‘strict countermeasures’

China quickly responded to rumors of a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics by the United States, which will be held in Beijing from February 4 to 20, 2022. The Asian country speaks of a “pure political provocation.”

Relations between China and the United States are tense. For a while it looked as if relations between the two superpowers were going in the right direction, but the rumor of a possible boycott by the United States of the Beijing Winter Olympics added fuel once again. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to the rumor, accusing the politicians of demagoguery by declaring that no US officials would attend the sporting event.

“Such a decision would undoubtedly be a political provocation,” the spokesman said, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. APNews, without specifying how China intends to respond.

American politicians continue to promote the so-called diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, which is nothing more than wishful thinking and demagogy. “If the Americans are determined to go their own way, China will take strong countermeasures,” Zhao Lijian said.

Violation of human rights

The US diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics – expected to be announced this week – is said to be the US’s response to showing its opposition to orchestrated human rights abuses in the country. China has been criticized for some time for its crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and for its treatment of the Uighur minority, which the US State Department has called genocide.

If no US officials are present at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the athletes will still be allowed to participate in the sporting event. The boycott will only be diplomatic.

The US wouldn’t be the only one boycotting the event, as Australia is also considering doing so after diplomatic relations with China deteriorated.

It is not clear how China will react if the diplomatic boycott of the United States becomes official, but the announcement is likely to further damage already strained relations between the two countries.

(pound)