House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday called on U.S. athletes who will participate in the Beijing Winter Olympics not to express their concerns about human rights in China due to the risk of retaliation.
While noting that the United States has a "moral duty" during the games starting Friday to highlight China's human rights violations, Pelosi said, "I would say to our athletes, you're there to compete. Do not risk incurring the anger of the Chinese government because they are ruthless."
"I know there is a temptation on the part of some to speak out while they are there. I respect that," the Democrat said during a congressional hearing, adding, "But I also worry about what the Chinese government might do to their reputations, to their families."
Speaking before the Congressional Executive Commission on China, she also criticized the International Olympic Committee for choosing Beijing as the host of the Olympics, saying that the IOC, aided by corporate sponsors, has turned a "blind eye" to the country's poor human rights record just to "bolster their bottom lines."
The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has decided on a diplomatic boycott of the games, in a show of protest over China's alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in the far-western Xinjiang region. Beijing has denied the allegations.
The decision means that the U.S. government will not send any diplomatic or official representation to the event, while U.S. athletes will still be allowed to compete.
Pelosi, known as a China hawk, said, "So, again, participate, let us celebrate from abroad, and don't risk thinking that there are any good intentions on the part of the People's Republic of China government, because there are none."
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