Scott Morrison confirms diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics

Scott Morrison has confirmed Australia will follow Joe Biden in a diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics.

Australia will join the United States in a diplomatic boycott of next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

Following days of consideration, Mr Morrison announced Wednesday morning that “the Australian government will not be sending any official representatives to China.”

“For some time (China) will have been very aware that we have been raising a number of issues that have not been received well in China.”

“We have been very pleased and very happy to talk to the Chinese Government about these issues and there has been no obstacle to that occurring on our side.

“But the Chinese Government has consistently not accepted those opportunities for us to meet about these issues,” Mr Morrison said.

The boycott means that Australia will not send diplomats to the event but athletes will still be allowed to compete under the Australian flag.

“I very much separate the issue of sports and these other issues, they are issues between governments,” he said.

Mr Morrison came under pressure from within his own ranks on Tuesday to join the boycott.

“The decision by the United States, our close ally and friend, to diplomatically boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics is a most welcome move and one in that Australia must follow suit,” said Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz.

“Australia must not be complacent but move with speed to demonstrate our long commitment to upholding human rights and calling out where they are breached.”

Biden administration spokesperson Jen Psaki called out Beijing’s human rights abuses earlier this week and said that the US would not legitimise the regimen by sending diplomats to the event.

“The Biden administration will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games given the PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses,” Ms Psaki said in a press conference at the White House overnight.

The Biden administration is understood to have made the decision to boycott the games weeks ago but delayed the announcement to avoid derailing its recent summit meeting with Xi Jinping.

Peng Shuai of China and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli.

The Chinese government has responded with characteristic bluster to threats of a boycott. Picture: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

The Australian boycott is a serious expression of the government’s disappointment with China’s behaviour in respect of human rights and international law, as well as the treatment of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, who was involved in a bizarre disappearance after she went public with sexual assault allegations against a top Communist Party apparatchik.

Last week Mr Morrison said he would be “considering” a diplomatic boycott, but there has so far been no formal declaration by the government.

The Chinese government has responded with characteristic bluster to threats of a boycott.

Chinese newspaper The Global Times, which is seen as a key mouthpiece of the Chinese government, reported that foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “These politicians who brag about the so-called boycott are simply doing it for their own political gains and attention.”

“Whether they come or not is in the interest of no one, and will have no influence on Beijing holding a successful Olympics.”