Biden tells Trudeau that a China Olympics boycott is ‘something we’re considering’

A "diplomatic boycott" would mean that there would be no official delegation sent and no US government support of the Olympics. Individual athletes would be allowed to compete or refuse to compete, depending on their consciences.

China has come under criticism lately for many things. Especially at the forefront, however what has been called "genocide" against the Uyghurs in China's westernmost and predominantly Muslim Xinjiang region. There are also concerns regarding egregious loss of freedoms and human rights abuses in Hong Kong, which is ostensibly not slated to revert to full mainland Chinese control until the year 2047.

The US position on this issue has been shifting back and forth on the issue throughout the course of the year 2021. In February 2021, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned that the Biden administration had no plans to take any action regarding the Beijing Olympics.

But then, In April 2021, the US government had reportedly entered into talks with Canada, the UK and the EU about the possibility of a boycott, with Ned Price, a spokesperson for the State Department, saying that "talks are underway."

However, after that, on May 21 2021, Psaki once again iterated publicly that the Biden administration was not planning to boycott the Beijing Olympics. Which brings us to Nov 18. 2021, where once again it appears that some sort of a boycott action is once again on the table.