Japan was nervous after the news that the US government is discussing a plan for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to be held in February next year. This is because if there is a formal request from the United States, it will be in an embarrassing situation, and it is unclear whether it will be possible to properly play the July Tokyo Olympics in front of us.
It’s difficult to reject the US request, but right now,’my nose is great’
Japan with a lot of worries about “it is difficult if it is discussed at the summit”
![On the 6th, a citizen wearing a mask is passing in front of the Five Rings Mark installed in Tokyo, Japan. [AP=연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202104/07/fcfc96a8-f763-434a-9441-8df3e5a101c8.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
On the 6th, a citizen wearing a mask is passing in front of the Five Rings Mark installed in Tokyo, Japan. [AP=연합뉴스]
Kato Katsunobu (加藤勝信) said at a regular conference on the 7th that “there is no such agreement between the United States and Japan” regarding the boycott of the Beijing Olympics in the United States. Regarding whether the issue will be addressed at the summit meeting between US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, scheduled on the 16th, he declined to answer, saying, “I will not answer questions based on expectations.”
Earlier on the 6th (local time), US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the US is discussing boycotts of the Beijing Olympics with its allies to protest China’s human rights violations. .
Even in 1980, Japan did not compete in the Moscow Olympics following the US, which declared a boycott over the then Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. If it is not the host country of the Summer Olympics, it is likely to follow the decision of the ally, the United States, again.
![On the 25th of last month, protesters against the Tokyo Olympics torch relay pass through Shimbashi, Tokyo, Japan holding a placard that reads ``Olympic End of the Olympics Declaration''. [EPA=연합뉴스]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202104/07/f672df9f-d7fa-46db-979a-df81316ab0f8.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
On the 25th of last month, protesters against the Tokyo Olympics torch relay pass through Shimbashi, Tokyo, Japan holding a placard that reads “Olympic End of the Olympics Declaration”. [EPA=연합뉴스]
However, it is difficult to say that they will not participate in other Olympics as countries have to request participation in the Tokyo Olympics held under the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). Moreover, as North Korea declared the world’s first non-participation in the Tokyo Olympics on the 6th, the Japanese government is affirming that the boycott will spread to other countries.
The Japanese government has not considered boycotting the Beijing Olympics so far. A government official told Jiji News, “I don’t know if we can properly play the Olympics right now, but we are not in a situation where we are going to focus on other countries.”
The problem is when President Biden requests cooperation during the US-Japan summit on the 16th. One of the officials warned, “If this matter comes out at the summit, it becomes difficult.” Jiji said, “If the US materializes the Beijing Olympic boycott movement, Prime Minister Suga will face difficult choices.”
Tokyo = Correspondent Lee Young-hee [email protected]
