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The story so far: U.S. Government will not send any official representation to the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, due to start on February 4, 2022, announcing what is being called a “diplomatic boycott” of the games.

• China, slammed the move as a “political stunt” and said the Olympics “were not a stage for political posturing and manipulation”.
• The spat over the Winter Olympics is the latest clash between the S. and China, adding to a long list of differences on trade, Taiwan, human rights and the South China Sea.

What does a ‘diplomatic boycott’ of the games mean?

• A “diplomatic boycott” means no U.S. official will be present at the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
• This stops short of a complete boycott, which would have meant the non-participation by U.S. athletes.
• S. said that the decision was taken because these games, could not be treated as such because of China’s “human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang against Uighurs (Muslim minority)”.
• Australia, Canada, and New Zealand have also announced that their officials will not be present at the games.

How is China reacting to the boycott?

• On the one hand, Beijing has sought to play down the impact saying the concerned countries were not invited, while on the other, its Foreign Ministry threatened “countermeasures”, as yet unspecified.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/the-diplomatic-olympic-boycott/article37921407.ece?homepage=true

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