US announces Beijing Winter Olympic diplomatic boycott, China balks at move

White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed Monday that the U.S. would not send any diplomats or other officials to the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics due to China's ongoing human rights abuses, saying it sends a message to China that the games are not "business as usual."

She added, however, athletes would still be able to attend as the administration did not want to penalize them given the training they have done for the event.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, commented on Friday on reports Australia also is looking into doing the same thing as the U.S., but said the Winter Olympics were a "rare opportunity for athletes to show themselves," and that politicians who "clamour for boycotts" were showing off.

Canadian politicians also raised the prospect of such a boycott, with Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole and NDP Foreign Affairs Critic Heather McPherson both spoke in favour of a diplomatic boycott, with McPherson saying Canada "needs to send a message to Beijing that the world is watching" on its human rights abuses.

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