According to Agence France-Presse, on December 8, local time, one day after the United States announced a "diplomatic boycott", Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also used so-called "human rights" and other issues as an excuse to announce that Australia would not send officials to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Morrison Image source: Visual China
Morrison claimed that from Australia's Anti-Foreign Interference Act to the recent decision to jointly develop nuclear submarines with the United States and Britain, Australia and China have "differences" on a range of issues. "We're not going to back down from a tough stance, and obviously it's not surprising that we don't send Australian officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics."
But Morrison's move was interpreted by foreign media as an act of overtures to the United States. A day earlier, the Biden administration claimed that it would not send an official delegation due to China's continued human rights abuses in Xinjiang, such as "genocide," as a way to formally declare a "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Biden Image source: Visual China
Agence France-Presse reported that Australia's relations with China have plummeted in recent years. Australia banned Huawei from signing 5G construction contracts and called for a so-called "independent investigation" into the origin of the new crown virus. Recently, Australia also signed a defense agreement with the United States and Britain to jointly develop nuclear-powered submarines for it. All of these actions are seen as Australia's open confrontation with China.
The Australian government's decision to announce the so-called "diplomatic boycott" does not actually affect the participation of the country's athletes in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. According to statistics, about 40 Australian athletes will participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics.
Matt Carroll, chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee, said: "For four years, Australian athletes have been training and racing to achieve their Olympic dreams and we are doing everything we can to help them succeed. ”
Regarding the so-called "diplomatic boycott" of the US government against the Beijing Winter Olympics, IOC member Dick Pound said that the US move will basically have no impact. "No matter what, every athlete ends up coming back to his place and going to the race."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that US politicians' constant speculation about "diplomatic boycotts" of the Beijing Winter Olympics is completely self-inflicted and sensational. The Chinese side will resolutely counter the so-called "diplomatic boycott" of the Us side.