Japan backpedals on cooperation with China in Beijing Olympics

Japan backpedals on cooperation with China in Beijing Olympics

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My guess is that no nation will say much of anything about boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics or even deny it until the Tokyo Summer Olympics are behind us.

Just boycott China already.

The Chinese have only one way to save face in view of a Beijing boycott and that is to pull out first from Tokyo2021 with the excuse of Covid to stop IOC to punish them.

I for one would not "backpeddle." I'd turn around and run like hell.

I'm guessing that things are starting to turn sour again after their tensions over the Senkakus, Tokyo's meddling in Taiwan, and the "please drink treated water" comment by Beijing. This is to be expected.

We have not discussed and are not discussing any joint boycott with allies and partners

No country would openly claim this at this early in time. Wait a few months ahead of the event.

If Japan has genuine concerns about China, then fair enough. But I do find it very strange that it always packpedals or criticizes straight after USA does the same. It's as if USA is controlling what Japan can or cannot do, and Japan always needs permission to say something on the world stage. I suppose Japan is going to get more requests when Suga meets his boss.

Eh, the US isn't "controlling" Japan and Mr. Biden is emphatically not Mr. Suga's "boss". The dynamic is that many medium powers and smaller nations look to the US for leadership on important matters. They share the same concerns regarding China, Myanmar, Russia and other regions that US has but because they are not so powerful they are often afraid to speak out or act alone. Look how China has been slapping Australia around for having the guts to challenge them on Covid. But if like minded nations consult and agree on a mutual approach to these matters and they know the US is ready to make a commitment then the smaller powers are willing to speak out and act in concert with the US and the other allies. The US taking a stand gives these other nations cover to do the same where alone they are too intimidated by the likes of China or Russia to speak out and risk their wrath alone. This is why US leadership remains indispensable. China has no allies to support it. Japan and the US however have many allies against China.

To be fair, if they are talking about boycotting the Chinese Olympics, no one would actually communicate their intentions openly. Actually, I am not sure why the Olympics are being held in China at all. Seems to me that China has been a less than stable country and most other countries are concerned about their global activities to say it mildly.

"Earlier this month, a U.S. State Department spokesman hinted that the United States was discussing a joint boycott of the Beijing Olympics with allies."

Japan together with other countries would support China by offering an alternative venue in case the Beijing Games is boycotted. 

Im not really sure if boycotting the Beijing Games, then taking them away from China, is "supporting China" lol. And Japan offering to host another money pit olympics would go down like a lead balloon in Japan.

Just scrap the 2022 Games completely. The world does not want or need them.

The existence of Plan B will not only warn Beijing but also ensure opportunity to athletes for sport performance.

I highly doubt any warning/threat over the Olympics will suddenly change China's policy of ethnic genocide. Nothing else has.

As for Plan B, fine - as long as it doesnt involve Japan again. No sensible nation would now put their hand up in the middle of Covid. Only dictatorships. The virus will soon (within ~ 1-2 weeks) be at levels worldwide we have never seen.

Backpeddling by Japan is all too common by the wishy-washy j-gov. Japan needs fresh leaders who can stand by their words, not incompetent dinosaurs linked to feudal tribes and corporate money.

Good for Japan and the USA - showing world leadership and taking a strong moral stand against Communist China and their genocide against Muslims. The worst genocide worldwide since the Holocaust.

It is now almost certain Japan and the USA will boycott Beijing 2022. Who is next to stand up for human rights? The entire Muslim world will boycott the Games, 100%.

I thought only Chinese vaccine vaccinated people are allowed entry to China. (And China offered this vaccine free to all Olympic athletes generously) Otherwise its 3 week quarantine and anal swabs isn’t it. Maybe they will drop all the quarantine requirements for entry like Japan is doing, although that doesn’t sound their style.

If Japan has genuine concerns about China, then fair enough. But I do find it very strange that it always packpedals or criticizes straight after USA does the same. It's as if USA is controlling what Japan can or cannot do, and Japan always needs permission to say something on the world stage. I suppose Japan is going to get more requests when Suga meets his boss.

Political double-speak. Stay on the sidelines. Japanese policy gone wonky.

Im not really sure if boycotting the Beijing Games, then taking them away from China, is "supporting China" lol. And Japan offering to host another money pit olympics would go down like a lead balloon in Japan.

Just scrap the 2022 Games completely. The world does not want or need them.

Please learn sarcasm. Besides, a sheer boycott campaign may not be successful as quite many remain more reluctant or resisting (even though they are also critical to the communist China over repressive policy). The existence of Plan B will not only warn Beijing but also ensure opportunity to athletes for sport performance.

Do you all forget that Sapporo is considering a bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics ?

I do not like using the Olympics for political protest. If China should not hold the Olympics, then that country should not have been chosen in the first place.

The choice to let Beijing host the 2022 Winter Olympics was made in 2015. Xi Jinping had been CCP General Secretary and PRC President less than two years. Nobody knew then how much China would change under his administration. China was a much friendlier nation under Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao so their choice can be forgiven.

The penny has dropped that China's party might be cooler than Japan's party. Gotta feign support until it costs you the win in the pissing contest.

Japan together with other countries would support China by offering an alternative venue in case the Beijing Games is boycotted. Top qualified athletes and key stakeholders wouldn't care much about in which city the event is held.