INTERNATIONAL: China has warned on Tuesday that a U.S diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics could harm two-way dialogue and cooperation in important areas, and called for politics to be kept out of sports.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian says that the actions of the United States seriously violate the principle of political neutrality in sports, as established by the Olympic Charter, and runs counter to the 'more united' Olympic motto. It stands on the opposite side of the majority of athletes and sports enthusiasts around the world. China expresses strong dissatisfaction and is strongly opposed to the U.S.'s position. China has lodged solemn representations to the U.S. and will make resolute countermeasures.
Zhao Lijian continues, in the absence of an invitation, the U.S. has linked the attendance of government officials to the so-called human rights issue in Xinjiang. This completely confuses the right from the wrong, compounds the mistakes and deceives themselves and others. The U.S.'s political plot is doomed to fail and will lead to a loss of moral authority and credibility. The United States should stop bringing politics into sports and stop interfering in the Beijing Winter Olympics with hurtful words and actions. Otherwise, it could harm a series of important bilateral dialogue and cooperation for international and regional issues.
The U.S.'s wrongdoings have destroyed the foundation and atmosphere of China-U.S. sports exchanges and Olympic cooperation. The U.S. is shooting itself in the foot. It should recognise the consequences of these mistakes.
On Monday, the White House has made an announcement that the U.S. government officials would boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because of China's human rights "atrocities", although U.S. athletes are free to travel there to compete. President Joe Biden's administration highlighted what Washington says is genocide against minority Muslims in China's western region of Xinjiang
China opposes the boycott and would take "resolute countermeasures.” The United States' "plot" of trying to disrupt the Olympics was doomed to fail, leading to a loss of "moral authority and credibility," Zhao has said. And he has urged the United States to stop bringing politics into sports, adding that the boycott went against Olympic principles.
