While the United States and Britain have declared diplomatic boycotts of the Beijing Olympics on the grounds of human rights issues in China, Japan has also decided to de facto participation.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, spokesman for the Japanese government, said at a press conference held at the Prime Minister's residence on the 24th that "there is no plan to dispatch a government delegation" to the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno said, "I think it is important that the international community's invariable values of freedom, respect for basic human rights, and the rule of law are guaranteed in China as well." explained that there is.
He added, "The Japanese government's response to the Beijing Olympics has been made on its own in comprehensive consideration of these points."
Matsuno said he was not thinking of using a specific name for not sending a government delegation, and was aware that the term 'diplomatic boycott' was not used in the US government's announcement.
In the case of the Minister of Sports Administration, who encouraged the athletes by participating in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, and spoke with factors from each country, this time, considering the strict behavior restrictions due to the spread of Corona 19, it is difficult to meet the athletes and encourage them. He added that he did not attend.
Senator Seiko Hashimoto, chairman of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee, Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) President Yasuhiro Yamashita, and Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC) President Kazuyuki Mori will be sent to the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games respectively, Minister Matsuno explained.
However, the Japanese delegation, including the athletes, is expected to participate in the Olympics as scheduled.