Australia Joins Diplomatic Boycott of China Winter Olympics
- Move make it first major nation to follow U.S. in boycott
- Beijing threatened retaliation over Washington’s move
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Australia will join the U.S.-led diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to protest the nation’s alleged human rights abuses, in a move set to further worsen relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s move makes Australia the first major country to follow the U.S. in deciding against sending officials to the spectacle starting Feb. 4 -- while both will allow their athletes to participate. The decision also comes after China threatened the U.S. with retaliation, warning that ties between the world’s two largest economies may suffer.