Following reports that the United States and a number of its allies were considering a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics scheduled to be held in Beijing next year, the Chinese communist government warned the U.S. it would respond firmly if that were to happen.
Denying the U.S.-led claim that the communist Chinese are committing genocide against Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian promised there would be a "robust Chinese response" if a boycott is pursued by the Americans.
"The politicization of sports will damage the spirit of the Olympic Charter and the interests of athletes from all countries," Zhao said in a statement. "The international community including the U.S. Olympic Committee will not accept it."
