China: Baerbock will “definitely not” travel to Beijing for the Winter Olympics

Created: 12/29/2021, 09:30 AM

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will not travel to Beijing for the Winter Olympics.

© Michael Kappeler / dpa

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will not travel to the Olympics in China.

This is a personal decision.

Berlin - 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 usual for foreign ministers in the past," said the Green politician of the German press 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.

Olympic Winter Games in China: Sports event criticized for human rights situation

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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized a political boycott of the Winter Olympics as unacceptable *.

"This 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 for the opening of the games in February.

(dpa / aka)