Canada looks set to join allies in diplomatic boycott of Winter Games

Canada needs to send a clear message to China about its concern over human rights, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Wednesday, a clear signal Ottawa will join a U.S. diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.


Reuters | Updated: 08-12-2021 22:28 IST | Created: 08-12-2021 22:28 IST
Canada looks set to join allies in diplomatic boycott of Winter Games

Canada needs to send a clear message to China about its concern over human rights, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Wednesday, a clear signal Ottawa will join a U.S. diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said an announcement would come later in the day, adding it was important that Canada was aligned with its allies.

Australia and Britain will join the diplomatic boycott, their prime ministers said on Wednesday, as other allies weighed similar moves to protest at China's human rights record. Athletes from these countries will still compete in the Games in February. Asked whether Canada would also take part in the diplomatic stayaway, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said she had spoken earlier in the day to foreign ministers of several other countries.

"Speaking generally, it's important that we have a large number of nations taking part," she told reporters. "The most important thing for Canada right now is that we sent a very clear message to the Chinese government that we are concerned about the situation in Xinjiang as regards human rights," she continued.

President Joe Biden's administration cited what the United States calls genocide against minority Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. China denies all rights abuses. A boycott would be a significant step for Ottawa, which already has poor relations with China. Canada, one of the world's leading winter sporting nation, came third in the medal rankings at the 2018 Games in South Korea.

Earlier this week the head of the official opposition Conservatives urged the Liberal government to join the boycott, accusing Trudeau of taking too soft a line with China.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Give Feedback