US wants China visas for 18 officials to attend Winter Olympics, Beijing confirms
- Chinese foreign ministry urges the US to ‘stop politicising sport’, calling boycott a ‘farce’ as it confirms visa applications for 18 American personnel
- The White House on December 6 announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games over China’s human rights record in Xinjiang
China has confirmed visa applications from US officials planning to visit during the Beijing Winter Olympics, which start February 4.
Most of the personnel appeared to be mid-to lower-ranking State Department officials, a source told the Post earlier. Applications for another 40 officials may be in the works, the US side indicated to the Chinese authorities, according to sources.
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The Chinese foreign ministry on Monday confirmed the visa applications and said the paperwork would be handled in line with relevant rules and the “principle of reciprocity”.
“The US side has recently staged a farce with the goal of political manipulation and claimed that it will not send any diplomatic or official representatives to the Beijing Winter Olympics, even though it has in fact never been invited,” ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.
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According to Beijing, a visit by an 18-strong delegation defeats the purpose of a boycott, even though Washington insists that those on the list are not official US representatives but rather security and medical support teams.
China will process the visa applications “in accordance with international practice, relevant rules and regulations, and the principle of reciprocity”, Zhao said.
“We again call on the US side to practise the Olympic spirit, stop politicising sport and stop making further comments or actions that would interfere with or disrupt the Beijing Winter Olympics.”
