Next February, China will host the Winter Olympics in Beijing and the surrounding province. This is problematic for the governments of many countries because the increasing global attention has been drawn to the continued genocide in the country, as pointed out by Mike Pompeo, against the Uighur people. Senate Republicans have already drafted a measure in which the games should be moved to another, less oppressive country. Several European countries have also condemned China’s actions.
But how did our neighbors in the north react? Canada is preparing to send its athletes to Beijing to compete, but their Olympic Committee warns them in advance not to say anything ‘controversial’ that could upset the Chinese Communist Party. (Free beacon)
The Globe and Mail reported on Thursday the Canadian Olympic Committee said its athletes should avoid publicly criticizing China ahead of the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, due to concerns that critics could be prosecuted under the Communist Party’s national security laws.
David Shoemaker, chief executive officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said the committee intends to spend “a lot of time” educating its competitors on what they might consider not commenting, at least until after the Games. took place. ”
“There were dissidents in Hong Kong who were taken away and charged because they said things that were contrary to the Communist Party of the Chinese government’s policy,” Shoemaker told the newspaper. “We will therefore talk to our athletes about the implications of what they say and of the topics they choose.”
It may not be rather as bad as it seems at first glance, but it’s still not a very good message to send. In the first place, the policy does not come from the actual Canadian government, but rather from their Olympic Committee. And it does not sound like they want to offer any kind of coverage to the Chinese government about their repressive actions. They are more concerned that their athletes could be arrested or detained when they show up for the matches if they are openly critical of the genocide.
Would the Chinese athletes from another country be arrested at the games and locked up? Given their recent record, I suppose we can not really put anything with them, but it would be unusual anyway. They usually feel free to abuse their own people as much as they want, but it will be a big increase to take a Canadian, American or European citizen and throw them in a cell.
Of course, we should probably be careful about how hard line we handle Canada if you think the Biden government is not exactly giving the example of this. On Wednesday, Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden currently has no plans to boycott the games or prevent U.S. athletes from participating. Asked if Biden supports the Senate initiative to move the Games, Psaki referred reporters to the U.S. Olympic Committee.
“We are, of course, consulting close allies and partners at all levels to determine our common concerns and establish a shared approach, but there is no discussion going on about the change in our plans from the United States at this time,” he said. she said. said.
The White House and the State Department have repeatedly asked in recent days whether the Biden government supports the relocation of the Games, reporters referred to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for further comment.
At this point, we do not even know whether the government of Biden will keep the genocide designation. Biden’s choice to be our UN ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said during the Senate’s interrogation that the State Department was “reviewing” the name. She made it sound more like a technical or procedural issue, but the White House clearly leaves the door open for the possibility that Pompeo’s decision could be reversed.
If that is the case, we will have very little chance of criticizing Canada for their rather lukewarm approach.