Japanese Government Announces Diplomatic Boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics Today

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida [Photo by AFP]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Japanese media outlets such as Sankei and NHK reported on the 24th that the Japanese government is scheduled to declare a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Sankei stated that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who had said on the 21st, "I will make a judgment considering the nationals at an appropriate time," ultimately decided on a diplomatic boycott, describing it as aligning with the United States. Earlier, on the 16th, Kishida expressed his intention not to attend during the House of Councillors Budget Committee session.

The United States declared a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics on the 6th, citing human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uyghur region by China. A diplomatic boycott means that athletes participate in the Olympic events, but no government delegation is sent. Following the U.S. declaration, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and others also announced diplomatic boycotts.

However, Sankei reported that voices urging improvement in relations with China are strong in the business community, and there is a possibility that Seiko Hashimoto, Chairperson of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee and member of the House of Councillors, or Yasuhiro Yamashita, Chairperson of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), may attend.

During the Tokyo Summer Olympics last July, China dispatched Gou Zhongwen, Director General of the State General Administration of Sports. In response, the Japanese government is reportedly considering sending Koji Morofushi, Minister (Director) of the Sports Agency, or Yasuhiro Yamashita, Chairperson of the Japanese Olympic Committee, instead of government ministers as a diplomatic courtesy.

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