The Biden administration will not send an official US delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a statement against China's ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, in western China. US athletes will still be allowed to compete in the Olympics, but the administration will not be sending government officials to the games. The same policy applies for the Paralympic Games, which are also taking place in Beijing.
The White House is looking to send a clear message that the human rights abuses in China mean there cannot be business as usual between the U.S. & China. The move marks an escalation of pressure by the US on China over allegations of forced labor and human rights abuses in China's western region of Xinjiang, against the Uyghur population and other ethnic and religious minority groups. We looked at a very brief news story on the camps where China imprisons, abuses and tortures Uyghur people because they are a minority population who practice Islam with their own, unique, vibrant culture. Jaydn expressed that she would like the U.S. to do more to help the Uyghurs, but acknowledged that the U.S. has to be diplomatic in its protest because China, like the U.S. is a nuclear power.