The Biden administration announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. The administration said the reason was because of China’s human rights record, citing “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang.”
The diplomatic boycott will not prevent U.S. athletes from participating in the Winter Olympics, which begin on February 4, 2022.
Chinese officials blasted the decision and vowed to enact “resolute countermeasures.”
“This severely tarnishes the spirit of the Olympic Charter,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said. “It’s a naked political provocation, and more, a serious offense to 1.4 billion Chinese people.”