White House announces diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Jen Psaki made the announcement from the podium on Monday
By Sophie Mann
Updated: December 6, 2021 - 2:02pm
The Biden administration has announced it will not send any diplomatic representatives to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a signal of disapproval toward ongoing Chinese human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the administration is sending a "clear message" that human rights abuses across the country mean that the United States cannot conduct "business as usual" pertaining to the upcoming Olympic games.
"The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics games given the PRC's ongoing genocide and crimes agains humanity in Xinjiang," said Psaki, adding that Team USA had the "full support" of the administration, but the White House will not be "contributing to the fanfare of the games."
The Press Secretary went on to say that the boycott does not signal "the end of the concerns we will raise about human rights abuses."
The White House has informed U.S. allies of its intentions and will "leave it to them to make their own decisions."
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