Japan will not send a government delegation to the Beijing 20th Winter Olympics in February, Tokyo said on Friday, and it is expected to further intensify its relations with Beijing.
Japan has made the decision following the United States, which has announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics over China’s human rights abuses.
However, Tokyo will send some officials directly involved in the Olympics to Beijing, senior cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference.
Among them will be Seiko Hasimoto, chairman of the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the 2020 Olympic Games, as well as heads of the national Olympic and Paralympic committees.
“Japan believes that it is important for China to ensure freedom, respect for fundamental human rights and the rule of law, which are universal values of the international community,” Matsuno said.
At the same time, he pointed out that the refusal of the Japanese government delegation to go to Beijing was not linked to a “specific term”, suggesting that the Tokyo decision should not be described as a “boycott”.
Tokyo tends to have a more moderate tone on human rights issues in China, given Japan’s dependence on its products to enter the Chinese market.
However, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is putting pressure on Prime Minister Fumio Kisida to take a stronger stance in relations with Beijing.
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