Controversy over Olympic boycott: China threatens US with counter-measures

The U.S. government is considering a political boycott of the Beijing Olympics. The Chinese leadership responded with sharp words. The foreign ministry threatened to “take decisive action.”

China has threatened the United States with “strong countermeasures” if the United States politically ignores the Beijing Winter Olympics. “If the United States deliberately insists on sticking to its course, China will take decisive action,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. Those who called for an end to “non-interference in dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States in key areas” should be stopped.

Even before the call came to American politicians, Zhao said, “they exaggerate the question of boycott.” He said it was a mockery of the Olympic spirit, political provocation and an attack on 1.4 billion Chinese. The Chinese people and the world will only see clearly the hypocrisy and anti-Chinese nature of American politicians.

Accusation of genocide

According to CNN, US President Joe Biden will announce this weekend that US government officials will not be attending the Olympics next year. However, American athletes must participate as planned. Reuters reports that there is a growing consensus in the White House not to send US government representatives to the Games in China.

Biden had already said in November that he would “consider” such a boycott. His government has asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Winter Olympics because of human rights abuses in China. The United States has accused China of genocide against the Muslim Uyghur minority.