UK Canada joins the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games

UK, Canada joins the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games. 

Canada has joined Australia, Britain, and the United States in a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing on Wednesday. China calls the boycott “political posturing” and attacks the Olympics.

The United States was the first to announce the boycott last week. They reported on Monday that the country’s government officials will not participate in the February Beijing Olympics due to Chinese human rights “atrocities.” 

Weeks after discussions aimed at relaxing tensions between two of the world’s biggest economies.

China on Tuesday stated that China Tuesday that the United States would “pay the price” for the decision and warned of countermeasures. 

But provided no specifics. China’s International Olympic Committee (IOC) tried to minimize the increasing diplomatic boycott.

Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau said Beijing would be conscious of long-standing Western concerns over human rights violations in China. “(So) it shouldn’t be a surprise that we decided not to send diplomatic representation.”

Trudeau’s decision is sure to cause tension in an already troubled relationship due to the arrest of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd Chief Financial Director Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant.

Meng was held on house arrest in Vancouver. She unsuccessfully fought extradition to the United States for almost three years connected to bank fraud. Her release was granted, and she was returned to China in September.

Two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who Beijing detained just after Meng’s 2018 detention, were released in September.

Just as Trudeau was speaking, IOC President Thomas Bach stated that the Committee was always interested in the athletes’ participation at the Olympic Games.

That’s why “we welcome the support for their Olympic teams all these governments have been emphasizing,” the president said in the media in a video conference. “This is giving the athletes certainty, and this is what the IOC is about.”

In the earlier parliament, when asked to decide if his country will follow Washington’s example, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated: “There will be effectively a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. No ministers are expected to attend and no officials.”

“I do not think that sporting boycotts are sensible, and that remains the policy of the government,” He stated, noting his belief that British athletes will continue to compete.

China said it was never invited, British officials.

“The Chinese government has not invited government ministers or officials from the U.K. to attend the Beijing Winter Olympics,” A spokesman from the Chinese Embassy in London stated.

“Making an issue out of the presence of government officials at the Beijing Winter Olympics is, in essence, a political smearing campaign.”