Britain joins Olympic boycott | Hollandsposton

The United States said Monday it would not send any official representatives of the U.S. government to the Winter Games in February, citing “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang.”

Now the Australian and UK governments have made the same decision two months before the Games.

“The right thing”

“It’s in Australia’s interest, this is the right thing to do,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

China is outraged and has said the US move is a conspiracy to destroy before the Games.

“The United States must pay for its mistakes,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday.

Despite the threats, Australia and the United Kingdom are choosing the same path.

Tight relationship

Relations between Australia and China have been cold in recent years, with Australia shutting down Chinese Huawei from its 5G network and calling for an independent inquiry into the origin of the covid-19. The Beijing government has responded by imposing bans and tariffs on key Australian imports, and Australian government officials have not been in contact with Chinese counterparts for months, Reuters reported.

Morrison said the boycott was triggered by the Australian government’s failure to negotiate with China over Chinese sanctions on trade or alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

The Australian Olympic Committee welcomes the fact that diplomatic boycott will not affect the approximately 40 Australian athletes expected to participate in the Games.