A movement to boycott the 2022 Beijing Olympics has picked up steam lately as more people across the world try to hold China accountable for its many abuses and ongoing genocide of the Uyghur minority. A group of 180 human rights groups called for countries to sit the games out. Businesses are also being urged to boycott. The Chinese government is not threatening those who join the movement.
On February 7, Hu Xijin, the editor of the Chinese Communist Party-controlled Global Times, said the government will “seriously sanction” nations that boycott the winter games. He issued the threat on Twitter and in an editorial.
Boycotting 2022 Beijing Winter Games, an unpopular idea, won’t receive wide support. IOC and athletes will both oppose it, and China will seriously sanction any country that follows such a call. pic.twitter.com/3cOSb2wMdS
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) February 7, 2021
In the editorial he said the Chinese government has the resources to “retaliate fiercely” against those who seek to boycott.
The last time the Olympics were boycotted was in 1980 when they were held in the Soviet Union. At that time, former President Jimmy Carter led the charge, convincing 65 countries to boycott the games. America has not indicated it intends to sit the games out.
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