Various groups issued a joint statement today outside of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan yesterday calling on the government and citizens to not ignore China’s human rights violations. They also demanded that the Chinese government ensure the basic human rights of all athletes during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Demonstrators put on a performance in from the the Legislative building. Holding up Olympic rings that retrained their hands with the rings representing groups and locations that have been consistently threatened and injured by Beijing: Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
The statement and demonstrations come as more people begin to pay attention to the human rights abuses routinely committed by the CCP, and as more nations begin to consider or implement boycotts. A number of countries have already instituted boycotts of the 2022 Olympics including Lithuania, Denmark, Japan, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. However, these countries are only participating in symbolic diplomatic boycotts.
The New Power Party (時代力量), currently led by Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智), has put forth a proposal that would have the government release a joint statement regarding the Winter Olympics in Beijing.
It is certainly heartening to see people coming together to make statements, unfortunately that is all they are. It could be the beginning of a greater movement to truly hold China and the CCP accountable for the gross human rights violations it routinely commits against not only other, but also its own citizens. However, these Olympic games are an extra special opportunity to actually do something about it, to make a real statement by truly boycotting them instead of mealy-mouthed symbolic gestures. Though what is likely to happen instead is that once again the world will put athletics and pomp and circumstance over human lives.
While you’re here, you should be reminded that no matter where the Olympics are held they should be boycotted until the leaders of the famously corrupt IOC are removed for their avarice and wanton disregard for human dignity and livelihood as well. And we will keep reminding you of it again and again and again until it happens.