China has slammed the United States' diplomatic boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Tao Yuan has the details.

China says it will take resolute countermeasures against the U.S. for its diplomatic boycott of the Games. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remark at a daily briefing on Tuesday.

ZHAO LIJIAN Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson "The step taken by the U.S. is in violation of the principle of 'political neutrality' upheld by the Olympic Charter. It also goes against the Olympic motto of 'Together' and all the athletes and sports lovers in the world. China opposes this. The U.S. should stop politicizing sports, and disrupting Beijing Olympics because it will harm bilateral dialogue and cooperation in important areas and regional issues."

The White House announced on Monday that it will not send U.S. government officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics, over claims of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

It came just weeks after President Xi Jinping and Joe Biden held virtual talks aimed to ease tensions in bilateral relations.

ZHAO LIJIAN Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson "The lie of the century fabricated by the United States about so-called genocide in Xinjiang has long been exposed by facts. The U.S. attempt to interfere with the Beijing Winter Olympics is out of ideological prejudice, and based on lies and rumors, and will only expose the sinister intentions of the U.S."

The boycott does not prevent U.S. athletes from competing. China's embassy says no invitations had been extended to American officials in the first place, and called the move a "pretentious political manipulation."

Meanwhile, opinion leaders in the U.S. has said that political differences should not interfere with the Olympics.

CHRISTOPHER NIXON COX Grandson of Former U.S. President Richard Nixon "I think it's always better to continue the conversation, and I think it's much better that our diplomatic continue discussing whatever issues there are. Without conversation and discussion, there will be no solutions."

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian added that athletes around the world, including those from the U.S., should be the center of attention at the Beijing Winter Olympics, not politicians.

And with the Games less than two months away, Zhao says China is confident to hold a safe and extraordinary event. Tao Yuan, CGTN, Beijing.