A boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics? Macron denounces a “symbolic” measure – The HuffPost

POOL New via Reuters

BEIJING JO – Decide on a purely diplomatic but not sporting boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics would be a measure “very small and symbolic”, estimated this Thursday, December 9 the president Emmanuel Macron.

“We have to be clear, either we say: we are doing a complete boycott, we do not send athletes, or we say we are trying to re-engage things and to have a work, a useful action as always at the international level. ”, said Emmanuel Macron at a press conference.

The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have decided on a “diplomatic boycott” of these Winter Games, accusing Beijing in particular of trampling on human rights, especially in its predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang (North-West).

Backpedaling by Jean-Michel Blanquer

The Élysée had let it be known after the American decision that France “would coordinate” with the other countries of the European Union on the attitude to adopt. But this Thursday morning, Jean-Michel Blanquer assured on RMC and BFMTV that France will not “do” a diplomatic boycott, before back pedaling: his entourage confirmed to AFP that the position of the Minister of Sports only concerned the sports component.

The announcement of the diplomatic boycott by several Western countries angered Beijing. “The use of the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada to the stage of the Olympic Games for the purposes of political manipulation is unpopular and amounts to isolating oneself,” said the spokesperson. word of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “They will inevitably pay the price for this bad move,” he added.

See also on Le HuffPost: Presentation of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union