8 Dec 2021

Australia joins diplomatic boycott of Winter Olympics

From Lately, 10:18 pm on 8 December 2021

Today Australia announced they'll be joining the US in a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in China. Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Australian officials will not attend the games but athletes will. The decision comes after the gradual deterioration of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries - as Australia has raised concern over 'human rights abuses'. The boycott specifically relates to the suppression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority in the western region of Xinjiang - an allegation China strongly denies. Elaine Pearson is the Australia Director at Human Rights Watch and explains whether this was the correct decision from Australia.

(180227) -- BEIJING, Feb. 27, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli meets with the Chinese delegation that returned home after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 27, 2018.

Photo: AFP