Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that Australian officials will not participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics by joining the United States in the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Games.
Morrison told reporters in Sydney that given the deteriorating diplomatic relations between Australia and China, officials will not attend the 2022 Winter Games.
“But there will be Australian athletes. Australia is a great sports nation, and I am very much in line with sports and other political issues, he said.
Morrison said he would like to see long-standing tensions between Australia and China resolved, but his government is not going to & # 8220; step back from a strong position to defend Australia's interests & # 8221; .
Reaffirming the diplomatic boycott, Morrison said it was caused by rights violations person in Xinjiang which Australia & # 8220; has consistently emphasized & # 8221; . He said the Chinese government has not yet discussed Australia's human rights concerns.
The Chinese Embassy in Canberra has accused Australian politicians of & # 8220; political posturing & # 8221; and suggested as it was in response to the US boycott that diplomatic representatives do not have to be invited.
– Australia's success at the Beijing Winter Olympics depends on the performance of Australian athletes, not on the attendance of Australian officials and political positions of some Australian politicians, the embassy said.
On December 6, it became known that the United States announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said genocide, crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights violations were the reasons for the diplomatic boycott of the United States.
