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Annalena Baerbock
Photo: Thomas Trutschel / imago images / photothek
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will not travel to Beijing for the Winter Olympics in February. "I'm a big sports fan, but I will definitely not go to the Olympics at this time - that was not common for foreign ministers in the past," said the Green politician of the dpa news agency. But that is her personal decision. A common line is currently being sought with the EU partners on the question of a diplomatic boycott of the games.
The USA announced weeks ago that it would not send any official representatives to the Games in China. Australia, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand followed suit. The background is, among other things, the human rights situation in the most populous country in the world. The leadership in Beijing is criticized for its dealings with minorities such as the Uyghurs and Tibetans, but also for the suppression of the democracy movement in Hong Kong or its threats against Taiwan.
Most recently, the Peng Shuai case also caused a stir internationally.
The Chinese tennis player published allegations of sexual assault by a top Chinese politician on the Weibo social network in early November.
The 35-year-old's post was deleted soon after.
There was no sign of life from her for weeks.
Then, recently, Peng said in a video that she had never made any allegations of abuse.
China reacts to boycotts with criticism
Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized a political boycott of the Winter Olympics as unacceptable.
"That is an unacceptable and wrong decision," he said at his big annual press conference shortly before Christmas.
"We have always been against the politicization of sport." The Kremlin chief plans to travel to Beijing in February for the opening of the games.
China itself reacted with sharp criticism to the boycott announcements from abroad.
Foreign Office spokesman Wang Wenbin said in early December, referring to New Zealand, Canada, Great Britain and Australia, the four countries "will pay a price for their wrongdoing".
That they use the Olympic platform for political manipulation is "unpopular".
They also isolated themselves with it.
asc / dpa