TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan has “no plans to send government officials” to February’s Beijing Olympics, Tokyo said Friday, after the US and other countries announced diplomatic boycotts over rights concerns.
Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto and Japanese Olympic Committee head Yasuhiro Yamashita will attend the Winter Olympics in the Chinese capital, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said.
The United States, Britain, Australia and Canada this month announced diplomatic boycotts of the Games over what they say are widespread rights abuses by China including against the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang.
Their boycott stops short of not sending athletes to the Winter Games, which start on February 4.
But Beijing has warned the four nations they will “pay the price” for the US-led campaign.
Japan, which hosted the virus-postponed Tokyo Olympics this year, is in a tricky position as tensions fluctuate between the US and China — both key trade partners.
© Agence France-Presse