China accused the United States on Tuesday of betraying Olympic principles and warned that it would "pay a price" for its diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Games in Beijing, despite the fact that a senior International Olympic Committee official expressed support for the US decision.
The White House stated Monday that U.S. government officials will boycott the Winter Olympics in protest of China's alleged "atrocities" against human rights, despite the boycott allowing American athletes to compete in the games.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a news conference that his country opposes the U.S. diplomatic boycott and has promised "resolute countermeasures."
"The U.S. will pay a price for its erroneous actions," he stated without elaborating.
Members of the Uyghur Muslim ethnic group in Turkey applauded the boycott of the United States.
Numerous important U.S. allies have been hesitant to follow its lead, but Australia announced on Wednesday that it would join the diplomatic boycott.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned what the U.S. terms "genocide" against minority Muslims in China's far western region of Xinjiang. China flatly denies all allegations of human rights violations.
The International Olympic Committee, the governing body of the global Olympic movement, held executive board meetings Tuesday at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, prior to the Beijing Winter Games, which are set for Feb. 4-20.
"We always request as much respect as possible and as little intervention from the political realm," said Juan Antonio Samaranch, head of the IOC's Beijing Olympics coordinating commission. "We must be mutually beneficial. We respect political bodies' decisions."
Winter Games are scheduled to commence around six months after the Summer Games in Tokyo, which were postponed a year because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"We are incredibly delighted, happy, and hopeful that all athletes worldwide will live in peace in 59 days," Samaranch said, referring to the Winter Games' scheduled start date.
The U.S. is preparing to host the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 and the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2030.
When asked whether China would consider a diplomatic boycott of the U.S.' Olympic Games, Zhao stated that the U.S. boycott has "harmed the foundation and atmosphere" of sports interchange and cooperation on the Olympics.
High-level government representatives are usually present at Olympic Games. Earlier this year, U.S. First Lady Jill Biden led the country's delegation at the summer Olympics in Tokyo.
