WEBVTT FILE X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=MPEGTS:0,LOCAL:00:00:00.000 1 00:00:00.430 --> 00:00:03.100 - On December 6th, the US announced 2 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:06.200 a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games. 3 00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:08.160 - The Biden administration will not send 4 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:10.440 any diplomatic or official representation 5 00:00:10.440 --> 00:00:14.950 to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. 6 00:00:14.950 --> 00:00:16.960 - The decision allows US athletes 7 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:19.040 to participate in the games 8 00:00:19.040 --> 00:00:21.610 but is a significant political snub 9 00:00:21.610 --> 00:00:24.240 and reflects the administration's displeasure 10 00:00:24.240 --> 00:00:26.700 over China's human rights abuses. 11 00:00:26.700 --> 00:00:29.710 Earlier, China had said that there would be countermeasures 12 00:00:29.710 --> 00:00:34.690 if a diplomatic boycott was implemented and added -- 13 00:00:34.690 --> 00:00:39.420 -No one cares whether they come or not. 14 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:42.470 It has no influence on Beijing's success 15 00:00:42.470 --> 00:00:45.190 in hosting the Winter Olympics. 16 00:00:45.190 --> 00:00:47.840 - It's certainly symbolic. 17 00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.060 It's not the same as an all-out boycott like the US had 18 00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:54.200 and several western countries had in 1980. 19 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:56.880 I don't see that happening again. 20 00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:58.940 - The boycott also comes on the heels 21 00:00:58.940 --> 00:01:02.320 of international condemnation of China's treatment 22 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.620 of former Olympian and tennis star Peng Shuai. 23 00:01:05.620 --> 00:01:07.900 - And we want to turn now the deepening mystery 24 00:01:07.900 --> 00:01:10.550 of a Chinese tennis star who hasn't been seen 25 00:01:10.550 --> 00:01:13.270 since publicly accusing a top Chinese 26 00:01:13.270 --> 00:01:14.690 official of sexual assault. 27 00:01:14.690 --> 00:01:16.840 - All mention of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai 28 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:19.480 has been scrubbed from the country's Internet. 29 00:01:19.480 --> 00:01:22.740 - Since the allegations and her public absence, 30 00:01:22.740 --> 00:01:25.290 Peng resurfaced at what appeared to be carefully 31 00:01:25.290 --> 00:01:28.450 orchestrated events along with video calls 32 00:01:28.450 --> 00:01:31.370 with the president of the International Olympic Committee, 33 00:01:31.370 --> 00:01:34.460 Thomas Bach, although Bach did not determine 34 00:01:34.460 --> 00:01:37.210 whether she was able to speak or travel 35 00:01:37.210 --> 00:01:40.660 without government interference or intimidation. 36 00:01:40.660 --> 00:01:42.110 - The IOC needs these Olympics. 37 00:01:42.110 --> 00:01:42.970 I mean, the IOC -- 38 00:01:42.970 --> 00:01:45.340 so much of the IOC's money is derived from the Olympics. 39 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:47.100 They cannot cancel the Olympics. 40 00:01:47.100 --> 00:01:49.810 China certainly has no interest in canceling the Olympics. 41 00:01:49.810 --> 00:01:52.510 This is a very big point of national pride for China. 42 00:01:52.510 --> 00:01:55.540 - The IOC isn't going to cancel the Winter Games 43 00:01:55.540 --> 00:01:59.290 over the tennis star's disappearance and silencing. 44 00:01:59.290 --> 00:02:02.050 But one group has taken action. 45 00:02:02.050 --> 00:02:05.940 On December 1st, the Women's Tennis Association announced 46 00:02:05.940 --> 00:02:08.430 that it would suspend all tournaments in China 47 00:02:08.430 --> 00:02:10.490 and Hong Kong in a decision 48 00:02:10.490 --> 00:02:13.760 that could heighten calls to boycott the games. 49 00:02:13.760 --> 00:02:15.750 - The WTA's probably been the strongest voice 50 00:02:15.750 --> 00:02:18.380 out there saying, "Well, what is going on? 51 00:02:18.380 --> 00:02:19.850 How come we haven't heard from her? 52 00:02:19.850 --> 00:02:21.320 How come we haven't seen her? 53 00:02:21.320 --> 00:02:24.550 All these things for weeks and weeks and weeks." 54 00:02:24.550 --> 00:02:28.680 - On December 2nd, the IOC said in a statement 55 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:31.020 that it held another call with Peng 56 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:34.990 amid continued concerns about her wellbeing. 57 00:02:34.990 --> 00:02:39.570 The organization added that it was using quiet diplomacy. 58 00:02:39.570 --> 00:02:43.230 The IOC has faced criticism from human rights advocates 59 00:02:43.230 --> 00:02:48.080 and others for taking this type of soft approach with China. 60 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.880 China's dismal human rights record was also a concern 61 00:02:51.880 --> 00:02:57.990 when the IOC chose Beijing to host the 2008 Summer Games. 62 00:02:57.990 --> 00:03:01.840 - March of that year, there were protests in Tibetan regions 63 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.190 and there was a really fierce crackdown. 64 00:03:04.190 --> 00:03:06.060 Human rights groups were livid. 65 00:03:06.060 --> 00:03:08.780 - But there was a sense of optimism at that time 66 00:03:08.780 --> 00:03:12.840 under President Hu Jintao that a new China was emerging. 67 00:03:12.840 --> 00:03:14.970 - People were sort of looking to some of the changes 68 00:03:14.970 --> 00:03:16.260 happening within China thinking, 69 00:03:16.260 --> 00:03:17.900 "Okay, yeah, there are still problems, 70 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:20.870 but it seems like there's some progress going on here." 71 00:03:20.870 --> 00:03:23.490 - At the time, there was a really big feeling 72 00:03:23.490 --> 00:03:26.290 that maybe China's loosening up a little bit. 73 00:03:26.290 --> 00:03:30.870 - Now really everything is going the other direction. 74 00:03:30.870 --> 00:03:34.330 Chinese President Xi Jinping, he's amassed power. 75 00:03:34.330 --> 00:03:37.030 He's about to enter his third term. 76 00:03:37.030 --> 00:03:42.050 China is picking fights left, right, and center with various, 77 00:03:42.050 --> 00:03:44.010 you know, western powers. 78 00:03:44.010 --> 00:03:45.850 You know, scrutiny has already been mounting 79 00:03:45.850 --> 00:03:48.450 over the crackdown in Xinjiang 80 00:03:48.450 --> 00:03:51.800 where over a million Uyghurs and other Muslim people 81 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:54.640 have been interned in reeducation camps. 82 00:03:54.640 --> 00:03:58.370 It was building over Hong Kong, where the national security 83 00:03:58.370 --> 00:04:02.820 law essentially outlawed democratic politicians. 84 00:04:02.820 --> 00:04:04.150 And instead of China 85 00:04:04.150 --> 00:04:07.090 kind of attempting some sort of compromise 86 00:04:07.090 --> 00:04:09.510 or working with western powers, 87 00:04:09.510 --> 00:04:10.690 they've been pushing back and saying, 88 00:04:10.690 --> 00:04:12.410 "No, we're doing it our way now." 89 00:04:12.410 --> 00:04:15.790 - More likely is that Beijing will continue to deflect 90 00:04:15.790 --> 00:04:20.200 and ignore questions on its human rights record. 91 00:04:20.200 --> 00:04:24.910 - This isn't just affecting, you know, these particular issues. 92 00:04:24.910 --> 00:04:26.620 It's really all over the board. 93 00:04:26.620 --> 00:04:29.970 I mean, who expected a tennis star to disappear? 94 00:04:29.970 --> 00:04:32.720 But frankly, Beijing doesn't seem to be backing down.