China has insisted that countries planning to diplomatically boycott the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will "pay the price".
The USA, Australia, Canada and Great Britain have all announced that they will not be sending any government officials to the Games next year, but athletes will still be permitted to compete.
The boycotts come in response to alleged 'genocide' and human rights abuses against ethnic populations in Xinjiang - namely the Uyghur population held in internment camps - but Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin has criticized the move.
"The US, Australia, Britain and Canada's use of the Olympic platform for political manipulation is unpopular and self-isolating, and they will inevitably pay the price for their wrongdoing," Inside the Games quotes Wang as saying at a press conference.
"We have reiterated many times that the Winter Olympic Games is not a stage for political posturing and manipulation. The world will see a streamlined, safe and splendid Winter Olympics to be successfully held in Beijing as scheduled."
The IOC has insisted that it 'respects' the decisions of countries who have chosen to diplomatically boycott the 2022 Games.
Ben Knapton
