[Global Issue+] US Beijing Olympics Boycott... Controversy Over 'Half Olympics' Resumed After 40 Years

Japan to Dispatch Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee Chair... Compromise Proposed
France Opposes "No Olympic Politicization"... Diverging Allied Views

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. government has officially declared a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics scheduled for February next year, reigniting the controversy over a 'half-Olympics' for the first time in 40 years since the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

As major U.S. allies also joined the boycott, countries are now at a crossroads. Although the U.S. government stated that participation in the boycott is left to each country's discretion, Western countries led by the U.S. have declared a boycott citing China's human rights issues, and China has strongly opposed this, leading to criticism that this is effectively a 'line-up' pressure.

Japan, Hesitant to Join Boycott, to Send Tokyo Olympic Committee Chair

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 11th, Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun cited multiple Japanese government and Liberal Democratic Party officials saying, "Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet has judged that it is difficult to send high-ranking government officials while China's human rights situation remains unimproved," and reported, "Instead of sending ministers, the Kishida cabinet is considering having Committee Chair Hashimoto attend the International Olympic Committee (IOC) General Assembly held in Beijing just before the Games and stay there during the Olympics."

A Foreign Ministry official explained, "Chair Hashimoto not only served as the minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympics but is also a current member of the National Diet, so he can help save face for China," Yomiuri Shimbun reported. Following the U.S.'s official diplomatic boycott declaration, major U.S. allies such as New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada have successively announced their participation in the boycott, and Japan is interpreted to have decided to join the boycott stance for now.

In particular, Japan's position is said to be very delicate as it coordinates Prime Minister Kishida's visit to the U.S. Previously, even amid controversies over COVID-19 prevention measures at the Tokyo Olympics, China did not boycott and sent an official delegation, making Japan's position more difficult. Moreover, next year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, so Japan must consider not only the U.S. but also China's stance. It is reported that governments worldwide are struggling over whether to join the boycott.

France: "No Politicization of the Olympics"... Allies Divided Amid Concerns Over Half-Olympics Resurgence

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

European countries are particularly thrown into confusion as France announced it would not join the U.S.-led boycott. On the 8th, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a press conference that the U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics is "a symbolic gesture with no real meaning," and added, "France will instead initiate work with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to establish a charter or regulations that guarantee athlete protection."

The reason many European countries share a skeptical view is due to concerns about a repeat of the half-Olympics seen during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. At that time, the U.S. declared a boycott citing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and many U.S. allies also declared non-participation.

However, major European countries like France, the UK, and Italy did not prevent athletes from participating under the Olympic flag as individuals, and U.S. territory Puerto Rico participated separately, rendering the boycott largely ineffective. Similarly, the 1984 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics also saw a half-Olympics scenario, but many Eastern Bloc athletes participated individually, diminishing its significance.

Ultimately, the Cold War-era situation has resurfaced after 40 years, raising concerns that U.S.-China tensions may escalate further. The U.S. government, aware of such criticism, has stated that the decision to boycott is left to each country's discretion, but countries with important relations with both the U.S. and China are expected to deliberate deeply until just before the Games.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.