US President Joe Biden to announce Beijing Winter Olympic boycott over concerns for Peng Shuai

American President Joe Biden confirmed that the US was considering a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing over concerns of China's human rights record, sparked by the latest controversy surrounding Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai.

Shuai, a two-time doubles Grand Slam champion, accused a former Chinse Vice Premier of sexual assault, and the WTA and European Union have since raised concerns that she is currently not free and living under control and coercion.

President Biden since admitted that a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics was “something we’re considering” as he sat down for a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last month.

White House spokesperson and US Press Secretary Jen Psaki recently confirmed during a regular briefing that concerns over human rights practices were behind the consideration of a diplomatic boycott.

"There are areas that we do have concerns: human rights abuses,” Psaki told reporters.

“We have serious concerns about the human rights abuses we’ve seen in XinXiang and certainly there are a range of factors as we look at what our presence would be.”

According to CNN, the diplomatic boycott - which is expected to be announced this week - would leave American athletes free to compete in the Winter Games, but means US officials would not attend events including the opening ceremony in February.  

On Friday November 19, Psaki gave a statement on behalf of the US government, saying: “We are deeply concerned by reports that Peng Shuai appears to be missing after accusing a former PRC senior official of sexual assault. We join in the calls for PRC authorities to provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts and that she is safe.

“I can’t speak, of course I know you’re not asking this, but to the details of the case or any more details of where she might be, obviously, but I want to be clear where the United States stands, generally speaking.

“First, any report of sexual assault should be investigated, and we support a woman’s ability to speak out and seek accountability, whether here or around the world.

“Second, we’ll continue to stand up for the freedom of speech and we know the PRC has zero tolerance for criticism and a record of silencing those that speak out, and we continue to condemn those practices.”