The NPR Politics Podcast What To Know About The U.S. Olympics Boycott
Dec 8, 2021
John Ruwitch, NPR correspondent specializing in the U.S.-China relationship, discusses the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics due to China's human rights abuses. He explains how this move exacerbates tensions between the U.S. and China while allowing American athletes to compete. Ruwitch highlights the contrasting responses of sports organizations, examines the implications for international relations, and places this boycott within the broader struggle between democracy and autocracy on the global stage.
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Focus on Xinjiang
- The U.S. diplomatic boycott focuses on human rights abuses in Xinjiang, a largely Muslim region of China.
- China's government is accused of detaining Uyghurs and other Muslims without due process, along with other abuses.
Peng Shuai Case
- Tennis star Peng Shuai accused a former top Chinese official of sexual assault and then disappeared.
- The Women's Tennis Association pulled tournaments from China, unlike other sports organizations.
Timing of the Boycott
- The Biden administration likely delayed announcing the boycott to avoid disrupting the summit with Xi Jinping.
- Increasing pressure and the approaching Olympics likely forced their hand.