Usually when people discuss boycotts of international sporting events there is always a contingent that objects with that you shouldn't mix sports and politics or that sporting competitions "build bridges". It appears no one believes that anymore? Perhaps no ever did and merely used it to excuse the boycott's target? Personally, I think that you indeed should mix sports and politics and that repressive countries like China, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, etc, should be boycotted. Their leaders care about international prestige and boycotts robs them of that. So this is a good move by the US. Though more consistency in who the US condemns for human rights violations would be nice.
U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
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Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#42Usually when people discuss boycotts of international sporting events there is always a contingent that objects with that you shouldn't mix sports and politics or that sporting competitions "build bridges". It appears no one believes that anymore? Perhaps no ever did and merely used it to excuse the boycott's target? Personally, I think that you indeed should mix sports and politics and that repressive countries like…
>consistency ... would be nice
I'd say necessary. People will assume (correctly) that this is human rights being used as a stalking horse for realpolitik. Which is frankly worse for human rights than no action at all.
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#43No, not the officials!
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#44If it were up to me, I'd have the athletes wear uniforms that alternatively "Olympic games, presented by Xinjiang concentration camps!", "Olympic Games, presented by no idea how the Coronavirus started, because there has been no investigation allowed in China around it origins.", and "Olympic Games, don't complain if you get raped because you'll end up locked in your house like Peng Shuai."
Much simpler to just put Winnie the Pooh on the outfits.
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#45These are pointless gestures politicians like to make to win the news coverage of the day. To make a real dent, remove China from WTO third world country status so it doesn’t benefit from all the unfair trades.
That will just add fuel to the belt and road initiative (what a silly name). There's no reason to screw up trade between nations, unless if one wants to create a climate favouring war. Recoognizing Taiwan would be an entirely different matter. Other states would follow suit. If the EU states and Japan would do it as well, then there's not much China can do about it except maybe start a war and attempt a Crimea style…
The climate favoring war is one in which the US slowly tears itself apart to appease sensibilities like this.
I think an entire generation of failed Chinese appeasement is enough — look at the damage it’s done to the American working and middle classes!
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#46These are pointless gestures politicians like to make to win the news coverage of the day. To make a real dent, remove China from WTO third world country status so it doesn’t benefit from all the unfair trades.
Diplomatically recognize Taiwan.
For bonus points, as walrus01 said a couple weeks ago, call the mainland "Occupied West Taiwan".
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#47These are pointless gestures politicians like to make to win the news coverage of the day. To make a real dent, remove China from WTO third world country status so it doesn’t benefit from all the unfair trades.
That will just add fuel to the belt and road initiative (what a silly name). There's no reason to screw up trade between nations, unless if one wants to create a climate favouring war. Recoognizing Taiwan would be an entirely different matter. Other states would follow suit. If the EU states and Japan would do it as well, then there's not much China can do about it except maybe start a war and attempt a Crimea style…
They've been preparing for a takeover of Taiwan for 30 years. They're almost ready, and the West has paid for it.
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
As funny as that would be, I don't think the athletes would be safe making any kind of political statements directly.
shouldn't there be guidance that no athelete that has ever made any kind of political statement on public or semi-public forums (facebook, twitter, tiktok, google plus) is unsafe?
Guidance to whom? The CCP is going to do its own thing. There's no reason for it to listen to the IOC.
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#49Earlier quoted context omitted.
shouldn't there be guidance that no athelete that has ever made any kind of political statement on public or semi-public forums (facebook, twitter, tiktok, google plus) is unsafe?
Guidance to whom? The CCP is going to do its own thing. There's no reason for it to listen to the IOC.
country's state departments (or their equivalents) often give guidance to their citizens travelling abroad about what sorts of safety concerns they might face.
Edit: oh i just realized I wrote "unsafe", I meant "safe".
Re: U.S. says it will not send officials to Beijing Winter Olympics
#50Where they ever invited?
Nope