The Peru Gazette

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik joined her Congressional Olympic and Paralympic Caucus Co-Chairs, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), Rep. John Curtis (R-UT), and Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), in introducing a resolution calling for a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games in light of the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights abuses.

“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has consistently demonstrated their blatant disregard for human life and should never have been rewarded with the hosting of the Olympic Games,” Stefanik said. “I am proud to stand against the Chinese regime reaping the significant diplomatic benefits of hosting this event, but this is one more step to hold the CCP accountable for engaging in a horrific genocide against Uyghur minorities, their suppression of democracy in Hong Kong, and their rampant human rights abuses against the Chinese people. I will always advocate for human rights and exposing the crimes perpetrated by the CCP—my colleagues and I encourage the rest of the free world to follow suit and join us in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics.”

According to the U.S. State Department, the Chinese Communist Party, “has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.” Likewise, the Chinese Communist Party has systemically oppressed the people of Tibet and dramatically curtailed the rights and freedoms of those living in Hong Kong through the draconian, anti-democratic “National Security Law.” In recent weeks, the Chinese military has mounted the largest-ever incursion into Taiwanese air space in a blatant attempt to intimidate and antagonize a valued U.S. ally.

In light of these grave human and civil rights abuses that violate the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympics Games, the Congressional Olympics and Paralympic Caucus co-chairs are calling upon the United States Government to withhold from sending a diplomatic delegation to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics on behalf of the United States.

“The world must not stand idly by as the Chinese Communist Party commits genocide against the Uyghurs and continues its brutal crackdown in Tibet and Hong Kong,” Langevin said. “The Chinese Government’s violent, anti-democratic actions go against every Olympic and Paralympic value that we hold dear. The United States should not legitimize the Chinese Communist Party’s grave civil and human rights abuses by sending our dignitaries to Beijing.”

“The Olympics contribute to building a peaceful and better world by exchanging different cultures and beliefs through competitive sports. Every country on the international stage as an Olympic and Paralympic host city should be held accountable for their actions,” Perlmutter said. “By taking these steps to decline sending diplomatic delegations to the 2022 Beijing games, the U.S. can stand in firm opposition to the Chinese government’s continued acts of genocide and repression.”

“China has been engaged in threatening and oppressive behavior, highlighted by its actions in Hong Kong and against Uyghurs,” Curtis said. “This bipartisan resolution not only calls for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Olympics but also pushes for the International Olympic Committee to establish a process to disqualify countries if their governments are actively committing mass atrocities during the bidding process or after their selection as a host of the Games.”