Following the UK and Australia, Canada Also Boycotts the Beijing Olympics

(Photo by CNN)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The movement for a ‘diplomatic boycott’ of the Beijing Winter Olympics, set to open in February next year, is spreading. Starting with the United States, followed by New Zealand and Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada have declared their participation, and Japan is also considering joining the boycott.

According to major foreign media on the 8th (local time), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated, "No British ministers or government officials will attend the Beijing Olympics," adding, "This decision effectively means a diplomatic boycott."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also formalized on the same day, "Like our partners, we are very concerned about the Chinese government's repeated human rights violations," and "Therefore, we will not send a diplomatic delegation to the Beijing Olympics."

A diplomatic boycott of the Olympics means sending athletes to the Games but not dispatching delegations composed of government or political officials.

Earlier, after the United States officially announced a diplomatic boycott on the 6th due to China’s human rights abuses, New Zealand expressed its intention to join on the 7th, and Australia on the 8th, bringing the total number of countries declaring a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics to five.

All countries belonging to the security alliance 'AUKUS' of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as the intelligence alliance 'Five Eyes,' which includes Canada and New Zealand, have decided to boycott.

Japan, another ally of the United States, is also considering a boycott. The Sankei Shimbun reported that Japan is reviewing the possibility of withholding the dispatch of ministers to the Beijing Olympics. Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said regarding participation in the diplomatic boycott, "I will independently judge from the perspective of national interest, comprehensively considering the significance of the Olympics and Japan’s diplomacy."

Germany, which has maintained a friendly relationship with China, has not yet issued an official stance. Olaf Scholz, the designated German Chancellor, responded on the 7th to questions about joining the diplomatic boycott by saying he would consider China policy carefully.

Italy, the host country of the 2026 Winter Olympics, will not participate in the diplomatic boycott due to the convention that the next Olympic host country must send a government delegation. South Korea has also stated that no decision has yet been made regarding the attendance of a government delegation.