Illustrative image taken from Archivo/RHC

By Roberto Morejón 

As if they were not enough, the United States added a new trump card to the already long list of disagreements with China, by captaining the diplomatic boycott of the winter games in Beijing, next February, with the tired argument of human rights.

Washington would send athletes and not official personnel, in order, it says, to punish the Asian giant for alleged violations of citizens' freedoms.

Strongly rejected by spokesmen in Beijing, the allusions to China's domestic situation have been denounced as a smokescreen for the real purpose, to undermine the economic adversary's prestige in its relations with the rest of the world.

For the overpopulated country, Washington's actions, seconded by a few Western states, contradict the Olympic spirit and politicize the games of fellowship.

The Democratic administration of Joseph Biden has unleashed quite a few alarms in the world, where irritation is growing over his convulsive contention as the virtual guardian of the planet's freedoms.

In addition, through the path of discord, the White House neutralizes the scarce hopes of a decline in the tension caused by the incessant hatred towards China.

Presidents Joseph Biden and Xi Jinping held a videoconference last November from which emerged an agreement to lower the visa impediments that each country places on journalists from the other side.

The nexus reached this ignition point after an agitated presidency of Donald Trump (2017-2021), with his outbursts and scorn, until bursting into a Democratic administration that continued the acrimony.

From the speculation about the origin of the COVID-19 to the boycott of the technological Huawei, from the launching of darts for what happened in Taiwan and Hong Kong to the sting for the economic presence of China in other latitudes, the frames to whip the qualified rival do not cease.

Analysts wondered if it is not an attempt to take away China's means of showing off, in view of its formidable economic and technological progress, during the winter games that the hosts are preparing with great care.

Beijing will become the only city in the world to host both sides of the Olympic Games, summer and winter.