The Biden Administration announced on Monday that they will not be sending official United States delegates to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a declaration against the “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity being committed in Xinjiang” which was stated in the official announcement. It is a diplomatic boycott which does not mean that athletes will not compete. U.S. athletes will still be allowed to participate in the Olympics, but the administration will not be sending any government officials to the Olympics.
“It would probably send a much more firm and bold message to the Chinese government if we just boycotted altogether, both the athletes and diplomats.” Senior Ben Collett stated his opinion on the matter.
The boycott is the result of an escalation of pressure by the United States on China over reports of forced labor and human rights abuses in the region of Xinjiang against Chinese minorities and Uyghur Muslims. The move has the support of the general public as well as bipartisan support in Congress. The White House has informed its allies abroad of this decision which has made other leaders consider taking action via the same method. So far, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have joined the United States in the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. These decisions have not sat well with China as they have expressed their frustration with the United States on this matter.
“I do not think that it is reasonable for China to be frustrated with the decision the United States made in diplomatically boycotting the Olympics in Beijing as China has been mistreating and violating human rights against minorities for years at this point. They are being petty.” Senior Noah Backus expressed.