Concerned About Lack Of Transparency, US Asks China Not To Restrict Journalists' Freedom At Beijing Olympics

Illustration - Chinese contingent at Beijing Olympics (Twitter @beijing2022)

JAKARTYA - The United States has urged China not to restrict the access and movement of journalists covering next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing.

The China Foreign Correspondents Club (FCCC) this week said it was concerned about the lack of transparency from the organizers of the Games, which are due to start in February 2022.

"We urge Chinese officials not to restrict freedom of movement and access for journalists and to ensure that they remain safe and can report freely, including at the Olympics and Paralympics," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

Activists are calling for the United States to boycott or bar its officials from attending the Olympics over China's treatment of the Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the northwest, which the United States says constitutes crimes against humanity and constitutes genocide.

Price said it had no updates on the US position on participation in the Olympics. US officials have previously said they would consult with allies on the matter.

All participants at the Beijing Winter Olympics will undergo daily COVID-19 tests. Meanwhile, international media will apply a closed loop system for three arena clusters -- one in downtown Beijing, one on the outskirts near the Great Wall of China, and another in the northwest of the city, in Hebei province.

According to the China Foreign Correspondents Club (FCCC) attempts by international journalists to cover the preparations have been "persistently thwarted," violating International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules and promises China had made when bidding to host the games.

Organizers have refused or ignored access requests, according to the Beijing-based club, sharing testimony from members who said they were harassed and subjected to violence for trying to provide independent coverage of preparations for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.