Paris: France will not join diplomatic boycott by other Western countries from the upcoming winter Olympics in Beijing, Minister of Education and Sports Jean-Michel Blanquer Thursday.
Asked about the boycott announced by the United States, Australia, England and Canada, Blanquer told RMC Radio and BFM Television that France “won’t do it”.
“We must be careful about the relationship between sports and politics,” Banquer said during the interview.
“Sports are a separate world that needs to be protected from political interference.
If not, things can release control and finally kill all competitions.” French President Emmanuel Macron strives to avoid entering open confrontation with China and has talked about the risk of conflict as an acidic relationship between Washington and Beijing.
He also went angrily with the United States, England and Australia in September after they signed a new security contract called Aukus who led Australia to leave the purchase of the French submarine.
Blanquer said that he would not travel to the Chinese capital, but the Minister of Junior Sports Roxana Maracineu will represent the French government.
The decision was not confirmed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, however, who said he was still looking for an EU attitude together on the possibility of boycotting during a press conference at the same time with Blanquer spoke.
“When it comes to diplomatic boycott problems, this question will be handled at the European level,” he told reporters.
China warned Western Nations on Thursday they would “pay the price” for diplomatic boycott.
Washington announced his previous boycott in a week, saying it was driven by violations of broad rights by China and what he saw as a “genocide” of the minority of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
“We need to condemn human rights violations in China because there are several and they need to be condemned,” Blanquer added.
“When it comes to sports competitions, we need to have the right and right response.” The EU-China relationship has been rocky this year, with both parties to exchange sanctions tit-for-tat for the treatment of Uyghur Muslim minorities in China.
The former German Chancellor Angela Merkel always encouraged a close relationship with China for 16 years in the office, but she was replaced by Olaf Scholz on Wednesday who will visit Paris on Friday and hold a press conference with Macron.