The United States announced on Monday that it is seeking to reach a "common approach" with its allies regarding the possibility of boycotting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, a move increasingly requested by a growing number of Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated during a congressional hearing in Washington, "We are consulting very intensively with our allies and partners to discuss our shared concerns, ideally aiming for a common approach." He added, "You will know more about this matter in the coming weeks," as the Biden administration has been delaying on this issue for several months.
Blinken emphasized that reaching a "common approach would be more effective" than a unilateral U.S. stance. For months, an increasing number of prominent Republican politicians have been urging the Democratic Biden administration to boycott the Beijing Olympics in protest against human rights violations allegedly committed by Chinese authorities, particularly against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Blinken himself has accused Beijing of committing "genocide" against this Muslim minority, a claim that Chinese authorities have vehemently rejected.
Recently, prominent figures within the Democratic camp have started calling on the Biden administration to boycott the Olympics. In May, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi advocated for a "diplomatic boycott" of the Olympics, stating, "Let us pursue a diplomatic boycott if the Games are held... Let us deprive the Chinese government of the honor of hosting heads of state."
Subsequently, lawmakers from both parties proposed legislation aimed at punishing companies that agree to sponsor the Beijing Olympics. On Monday, other lawmakers introduced a resolution calling on the International Olympic Committee to move the 2022 Winter Games to another country "unless the Chinese government ends its crimes against the Uyghur people."
