Despite China's 'Zero COVID' Policy... COVID Spread Continues
Controversial Anal Exams, Accused of 'Human Rights Violations,' Resurrected
US-Led 'Diplomatic Boycott' Declared... International Criticism Grows
Beijing Olympics Also Criticized as 'Sportswashing'
[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Ahead of the opening of the 24th Winter Olympics next week in Beijing, China, a series of adverse events continue to unfold. Western countries including the United States and Europe have declared a 'diplomatic boycott' of the Beijing Olympics due to human rights abuses in China, while domestically, concerns are growing as the spread of COVID-19 continues. Additionally, criticism is mounting against the Beijing Olympics as Chinese authorities have effectively restricted the freedom of expression of participating athletes.
The spread of COVID-19 in Beijing, China, shows no signs of slowing down. According to the National Health Commission of China as of midnight on the 25th, 45 new confirmed cases were reported nationwide. Excluding imported cases, there were 18 community infections: 6 in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 5 in Beijing, 3 in Henan Province, 2 in Hebei Province, 1 in Tianjin, and 1 in Shanghai. The cumulative number of confirmed cases has reached 105,705.
Over the past week, the number of new confirmed cases on the Chinese mainland has been decreasing from 55→43→23→23→19→18→18, but a cluster infection originating in Beijing's Fengtai District has spread to three provinces?Shandong, Shanxi, and Hebei?making the situation still precarious.
Despite Beijing's 'zero COVID' policy, COVID-19 cases continue to emerge, leading to the revival of 'anal swab tests' in China. According to local media, on the 15th (local time), the COVID-19 prevention and control center in Beijing conducted anal swab PCR tests on 27 residents.
The anal swab test involves inserting a swab 3 to 5 cm into the anus and rubbing it several times to collect samples. During this procedure, the test subject must remove their lower garments and assume a humiliating posture, which has sparked human rights concerns. However, with the Olympics imminent and the first Omicron variant infection detected in Beijing, the city appears to have decided to resume anal swab testing.
COVID-19 continues to spread in Beijing, China, ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
To make matters worse, COVID-19 cases have also been confirmed among overseas athletes who entered China to participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics. According to the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee on the 24th, 4 out of 529 overseas athletes tested positive, marking the first confirmed cases among the foreign delegation. The committee confirmed that one of the four infected individuals is an athlete.
The external perception of the Beijing Olympics is also unfavorable. Led by the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and others have declared a 'boycott of the Beijing Olympics.' While athletes are allowed to participate, government and political officials will not be dispatched as part of their delegations. The United States declared the boycott citing human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region by the Chinese government, and the boycott movement has been followed by major U.S. allies.
In this context, the Chinese government has warned that athletes participating in the Olympics could face punishment if they raise human rights issues in China. On the 19th (local time), Yang Xiu, Deputy Director of the International Relations Department of the Organizing Committee, told the BBC, "All expressions aligned with the Olympic spirit will be protected," but added, "Any actions or statements contrary to the Olympic spirit, especially those violating Chinese laws and regulations, will be subject to punishment." This has been criticized as effectively 'gagging' athletes from speaking about human rights issues in China.
In response, Minky Worden, Director of Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organization, raised her voice on the 24th, calling the Beijing Winter Olympics a 'sportswash'?an image makeover through sports. She said, "The Beijing Committee violates basic human rights by threatening thousands of Olympic athletes," and added, "According to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Rule 50.2, athletes can express their views in a limited way as long as they respect 'laws' and 'Olympic values' and do not protest on the podium."
Speaker of the National Assembly Park Byeong-seok will visit China for a 3-night, 4-day trip starting on the 3rd of next month. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, South Korea will not join the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics. According to the National Assembly, on the 25th, National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seok will visit China for a 3-night, 4-day trip starting February 3rd, upon invitation from Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China. Speaker Park plans to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics and a luncheon hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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