INTERNATIONAL: United States was the first to announce a boycott last Monday, saying its government officials would not attend the 4 to 20 February Games because of China’s human rights “atrocities” in the western region of Xinjiang. It was followed by Australia, Britain and Canada.

China is nonchalant about a "domino effect" of diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Winter Olympics, it has announced on Thursday. "I don't see any need to be worried about any domino effect," Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has shared when asked about the chance of more boycotts."On the contrary, most countries in the world have expressed support for the Beijing Winter Olympics."

The diplomatic boycotts by the United States and its allies follow a sharp deterioration in relations between Beijing and Washington that began under former U.S. President Donald Trump.U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has maintained pressure on China over various issues including human rights and China's maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Wang has pointed out that the United Nations on 2 December has adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by more than 170 of 193 member states, for an "Olympic Truce" calling on states to rise above politics and unite in sports during the Beijing Games. "Quite a few" foreign leaders and members of royal families had registered to attend, he said.

The only leader of a major country who has publicly accepted an invitation was Russian President Vladimir Putin.Wang said the United States and its allies would "pay the price for their mistaken acts" and they had "used the Olympics platform for political manipulation".

China has stated on Tuesday it would "resolutely take countermeasures" against the United States for its boycott but has not specified what they would be. Wang also said that China had no plans to invite officials from Britain and Canada to the Games anyway, and that their absence would have "no impact" on the success of the event.