Democratic lawmaker: Biden’s diplomatic boycott of Beijing ‘does not go far enough’

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio.), a candidate for Senate in next year’s midterms, says President Biden’s diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics “does not go far enough.” 

“China has been a bad actor and everyone knows it — from continuing to stonewall on the WHO [World Health Organization] investigation of COVID-19 origins to perpetrating genocide and committing mass humans rights violations,’” Ryan said in a statement on Monday. 

“I’m glad to see the Biden Administration take steps to hold China accountable, but this diplomatic boycott does not go far enough.”

I’m glad to see the @WhiteHouse take steps to hold China accountable, but this diplomatic boycott does not go far enough. China has demonstrated again and again that they do not deserve the honor associated with hosting the Olympics. My full statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/7h4PAcrCAw

— Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) December 6, 2021

Ryan said that China shouldn’t be allowed to host the Olympics at all.

The Biden administration earlier Monday announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, saying the U.S. will not send any government officials to the two-week event in protest of China’s human rights violations. 

The announcement was applauded by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who have applauded such a move.

Ryan called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in August to completely bar China from hosting the Winter Olympics unless Beijing cooperated fully with WHO’s probe into the origins of the coronavirus.