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Exclusive | China ‘will issue visas’ for US Olympic delegation despite diplomatic boycott
- List of 18 American officials seeking visas for the Beijing-hosted Winter Games has expanded to 46, which will be approved, according to a source
- Diplomat urged US not to politicise the Games, source says, as Washington insists its boycott stands, describing its delegation as consular support
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China has agreed to grant visas to 46 US officials for next month’s Winter Olympics in Beijing, and reiterated its call for Washington to stop politicising the event, a source said.
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The South China Morning Post reported last month that the US government had submitted three-month applications for 18 people for the Games, just weeks after the White House confirmed it would carry out a diplomatic boycott of the event.
A source familiar with the situation said that the list had expanded to 46 officials, most of whom worked for the Department of State.
“During a recent meeting between Jing Quan [the third-ranking diplomat at China’s Washington embassy] and Laura Rosenberger [senior director for China at the US National Security Council], the Chinese side indicated that it had approved visas for the US delegation,” said the source, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.
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US applies for 18 officials to attend Beijing Olympics despite boycott announcement
US applies for 18 officials to attend Beijing Olympics despite boycott announcement
Jing had urged the American side to “stop politicising sports and the Olympic Games” through the diplomatic boycott, the source said.
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Beijing has said the planned visit by the US officials defeated the purpose of a boycott. Washington said the listed people were not official representatives but would attend the Games for security and medical support.
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