Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida says he has no plans to attend Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Kishida said Japan will make a decision after comprehensively taking into account various issues in consideration of the national interest

This appears to be a softer tone than the diplomatic boycott by the US, Canada, Australia and Britain over China’s human rights record

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a House of Councillors budget committee session in Tokyo on December 16. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 1:32pm, 16 Dec 2021Updated: 2:04pm, 16 Dec 2021

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thursday he has no plans to attend the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at the moment, taking what appeared to be a softer tone than Western allies who have declared a diplomatic boycott while suggesting he is still considering various options.

“At the moment, I have no plans to attend,” Kishida said in parliament when asked by Shinkun Haku, a lawmaker of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, about whether he will travel to China in February.

But Kishida followed up by saying, “It is important to make a judgment by myself at an appropriate time after comprehensively taking into account various issues in consideration of the national interest.”

Kishida’s remarks in the House of Councillors’ Budget Committee meeting came after the United States announced it is not sending officials to the Games amid intensifying criticism of China’s human rights record.

China has called the boycotts “political posturing” and a smear campaign.

So far, the diplomatic boycott has been joined by various countries, including Australia, Britain and Canada, while France said last week it will not boycott in a break from other Group of Seven industrialised nations. Paris is due to host the Summer Games in 2024.