02:29
US announces diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics, expects other countries to follow
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3161250/bidens-diplomatic-boycott-stands-despite-asking-send-18 Diplomacy
Biden’s diplomatic boycott stands despite asking to send 18 officials to Beijing Winter Olympics: US
- The US confirms it applied for visas for officials to attend Winter Games to give American athletes and personnel ‘consular and diplomatic security services’
- China’s foreign ministry urges US to ‘stop politicising sport’ and not give comments or actions that ‘interfere with or disrupt’ the Winter Olympics
The US embassy in Beijing says the United States will maintain its diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games, despite applying for officials to visit the city during the event to provide “consular and diplomatic security services” for athletes and other personnel. Photo: Reuters
The US will send officials to China to provide “consular and diplomatic security services” for American athletes, according to the US State Department, which said the move did not constitute official or diplomatic representation at the Beijing Winter Olympics.
A State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday the Biden administration’s position was unchanged after China confirmed it had received visa applications from US officials planning to visit during the Games, which start on February 4.
The South China Morning Post reported last week that the US government had recently submitted three-month visa applications for 18 people to provide “security support operations” at the Games, just weeks after the White House confirmed it would carry out a diplomatic boycott of the Games.
Sources have said most of the US personnel appeared to be mid- to lower-ranking State Department officials and that applications for a further 40 officials may follow.
A US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday these officials would provide consular and security services, calling it “standard” practice to have such personnel on the ground.
“We intend to provide consular and diplomatic security services to ensure our athletes, coaches, trainers and staff are secure and have access to the American citizen services that we provide to all US citizens overseas,” the spokesperson said.
“Any visa application would be for those consular and diplomatic security personnel. It is standard to have those personnel on the ground, and those personnel do not constitute official or diplomatic representation at the Games.”
In November, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a diplomatic boycott of the Games before the White House officially announced the boycott on December 7. The US spokesperson said Washington had not changed its mind on the boycott.
“Our position we announced earlier this month remains our position and will not be changing: we will not have any diplomatic or official representation given the PRC’s [China’s] ongoing genocide and crimes against in humanity in Xinjiang, and other human rights abuses. Any suggestion otherwise is false.”
02:34
Australia, Britain, Canada join US diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights
The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed the visa applications on Monday and said the paperwork would be handled in line with international practice, relevant rules and the “principle of reciprocity”. He also called on the US to “stop politicising sport and stop making further comments or actions that would interfere with or disrupt the Beijing Winter Olympics”.
On Tuesday, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press conference China was not convinced by the US’ latest comments.
“The US side on one hand claims it will not send any diplomatic or official representation, but on the other hand it is applying for visas for its officials across several departments, including the state and defence departments. This sort of rhetoric is puzzling,” Zhao said.
“No matter what explanation the US side uses, the facts are there.”