Australia joined the United States in its diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison citing human rights abuses and other issues on Tuesday.
“I’m doing it because it’s in Australia’s national interest,” Morrison said. “It’s the right thing to do.”
The news comes one day after the Biden administration announced a U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games, which begin Feb. 4. White House press secretary Jen Psaki cited China’s “ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang and other human rights abuses” in announcing the decision.
Psaki said the administration did not want to prevent athletes from competing but still wanted to signal its disapproval of China's actions.