China: China accused the United States of breaking the Olympic spirit by announcing a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, warning Washington that it would “pay for its misdeeds,” in a fresh diplomatic spat that is sure to aggravate already strained ties. The White House said on Monday that government officials will boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to China’s “atrocities” against human rights, however American athletes will be allowed to partake in the Games, which will begin on February 4.
The Chinese foreign ministry reacted angrily to the boycott, claiming that Washington is seeking to meddle with the Winter Olympics “out of ideological prejudice and based on falsehoods and rumours.” China opposes the boycott and would take “decisive actions,” according to foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, who spoke at a routine ministry briefing on Tuesday.
Zhao said, “The US will pay a price for its practices. You may stay tuned for follow-ups.” Zhao encouraged the United States to refrain from inserting politics into sports, claiming that the boycott violated Olympic values. China’s embassy in Washington described the boycott as “political manipulation” that had no bearing on the Games because no invitations had been made to US politicians. On Monday, the White House described China’s human rights record as “egregious.”