Bloomberg – United States says Its diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics continued after China announced that US government officials had applied for visas.

Visa applications are intended for consular and security personnel, A State Department spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday., adding that providing athletes, coaches, and others with access to services Americans enjoy overseas is routine.

The United States will not change its decision to refrain from sending diplomatic or official representatives to the February Olympics, the statement said.

Biden’s government announced the boycott earlier this month, citing “crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, and other human rights violations.” Australia, Canada and Britain followed Washington’s lead, and Japan said it would not send government representatives, although he avoided the words “diplomatic boycott.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on Monday that Beijing had received visa applications from US officials for the Olympics. He made this comment after being asked about reports that Washington would be sending people from the State Department and other countries to the event..

At a similar briefing on Tuesday, Zhao said that, although the United States announced that it would not be sending an official delegation, “there have been numerous visa applications from State Department and Pentagon officials. Comments like that are really confusing.”

Beijing has repeatedly and vehemently denied allegations of genocide against it over its management of the western region of Xinjiang, home to the majority of the Muslim Uighur population. China insists it provides job training and educational opportunities while cracking down on terrorism.

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This article was translated by Andrea González