Holyrood ministers have ordered Scottish officials to boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics over “systemic” human rights abuses by the Chinese regime.
Pressure has been building on the UK government to withdraw diplomats from next year’s Games after the US refused to send any representatives.
The snub by SNP politicians is largely symbolic given that Holyrood has no powers over foreign affairs. Maree Todd, the public health minister, confirmed that it was motivated by China’s oppression of minority communities.
“The Scottish government continues to be deeply concerned by reports of serious, widespread and systemic human rights abuses committed against members of the Uighur and other minority ethnic communities in Xinjiang, as well as by China’s overall record of human rights violations,” she said.
Todd’s statement
