China’s envoy to Japan, Kong Xuanyou, on Thursday said the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics had been unfortunately “used as a political tool,” and asked for Japan’s support, while also warning Tokyo not to interfere on Taiwan. Kong’s speech came as members of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party (LPD) call for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Games in February.

The United States and other nations have announced a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Olympics due to what they say are human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang, but Japan has yet to make a decision.

Kishida earlier on Thursday said he has no plan to attend the Winter Olympics at the moment, taking what appeared to be a slightly softer tone.

Source: VOV5