UK Announces Diplomatic Boycott Of 2022 Winter Olympics

The UK and Canada have become the latest nations to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, due to be held in February 2022.

On Wednesday, during Prime Ministers Questions, Boris Johnson said no ministers will attend due to alleged human rights abuses in China. Although Johnson did confirm that British athletes were still permitted to attend citing that “sporting boycotts” are not a sensible option.

Canada followed suit later in the day, also citing human rights concerns.

It comes after similar announcements by the US and Australia earlier this week.

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has said that, despite the growing number of political boycotts, the IOC was pleased that athletes would still be able to take part.

In recent years, tensions have risen between China and several Western countries, over a rising number of diplomatic issues.

The US became the first country to announce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics and has accused China of genocide in its repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in the western region of Xinjiang – Beijing has strongly denied these international claims, despite reports that more than a million people have been arbitrarily detained.

Relations are also strained over China’s suppression of political freedoms in Hong Kong, and because of concerns for the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, who has not been seen in public for weeks after she accused a top government official of assault.

As a result, the Women’s Tennis Association last week suspended all tournaments in China because of “serious doubts” about Ms Peng’s safety.