China: FM spox accuses US of 'diplomatic boycott' ahead of Beijing Winter Olympic Games

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Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused the United States of staging a ‘diplomatic boycott’ ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games during a presser in Beijing on Monday.

“The constant hype of diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games by American politicians is totally self-assertive and grandstanding,” said Zhao, who called the move “pure political manipulation”.

He further called on the US to stop politicising the event, saying China would be prepared to take “counter-measures” should that continue.

The remarks came after internal government reports in the US indicated that the Biden administration was expected to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics in the upcoming days in order to denounce human rights abuses in China.

The Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from 4 to 20 February 2022 in the Chinese capital which was elected as the host city in 2015.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Zhao Lijian, Foreign ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): “The constant hype of diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games by American politicians is totally self-assertive and grandstanding. It is pure political manipulation and those American politicians have not even received the invitation yet.”

SOT, Zhao Lijian, Foreign ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): “What the United States should do is to correct its attitude, practice a more United Olympic spirit, take China’s concerns seriously, refrain from politicising sports, and stop the hype about the so-called diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games so as not to affect the dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in important areas. If the United States insists on going its way, the Chinese side will certainly take resolute counter-measures.”

SOT, Zhao Lijian, Foreign ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): “The Beijing Winter Olympic Games is a grand event for athletes and enthusiasts of the whole Winter Olympic Games, not an occasion for politicians of individual countries to put on a show. According to the Olympic rules, dignitaries of various countries will be invited to attend the Olympic Games by their own Olympic Organising Committee, and whether or not to invite them will be decided by the National Olympic Organising Committee.”

SOT, Zhao Lijian, Foreign ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): “The Olympic Charter clearly stipulates that sports organisations in the Olympic Movement shall remain politically neutral and oppose the abuse of sports and athletes for any political or commercial purpose.”

SOT, Zhao Lijian, Foreign ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): “I have noticed that the president of the Australian Olympic Committee has publicly stated that it is meaningless for any country to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, and he has also announced the participation of Australian athletes in the Beijing Winter Olympic Games.”

SOT, Zhao Lijian, Foreign ministry spokesperson (Mandarin): “The politicians who shouted and boycotted made a show of political selfishness. No one will care if they come or not, and it will have no impact on Beijing’s success in hosting the Winter Olympic Games.”

#China #USA

Video ID: 20211206-011

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