Beijing Winter Olympics: China receives visa applications from US officials to attend the Games despite diplomatic boycott
2022 Winter Olympics is scheduled to start on February 4 in Beijing.
Weeks after the United States of America announced its plans of a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, China reveals that it has received diplomatic visa applications from US officials. The US had stated that they will not be sending an official US delegation to the Games.
Yet, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian revealed on Monday that they have received visa applications from US officials. “What I can confirm is that the Chinese side has received the visa application from the concerned U.S. officials,” Zhao told during a regular news briefing in Beijing.
The Chinese foreign minister went on to assure that the visa requests would be handled with “international practice, relevant regulations and the principle of reciprocity”. According to a South China Morning Post report, the US government had recently submitted visa applications for its 18 officials to attend the Winter Games.
“Now with regard to the U.S. request to send a team of government officials to China and their visa applications, the Chinese side will handle them in accordance with international customary practice, relevant regulations and the principle of reciprocity,” he said.
US clarifies on the ‘diplomatic boycott’ of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
Following the briefing, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said in a statement Tuesday there will be no “diplomatic or official representation given [China’s] ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, and other human rights abuses.” The US accuses of perpetrating “genocide” against Uyghur Muslims in the northwestern Xinjiang region.
It added that some consular and security officers will go to assist athletes and coaches and the visa applications would be for them. “It is standard to have those personnel on the ground, and those personnel do not constitute official or diplomatic representation at the Games.”
The US’ decision of boycotting the marquee event has drawn flack from Chinese officials who went on to claim that Washington was never invited. “The Beijing Winter Olympic Games is a party “by invitation only”. Some US politicians need not flatter themselves by “weaponizing” their attendance. One can’t decline an invitation without first receiving one,” Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Hua Chunying‘s tweet read.
As many as five countries have made an announcement of boycotting the 2022 Beijing Games, scheduled from February 4 onwards. US allies Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan also will be not sending a diplomatic delegation to the Chinese capital for the Winter Olympics.
Also Read | Australia joins the US in diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)