Canada Joins Allies In Beijing Olympics Boycott

Rights groups have called for a full-blown boycott of the Winter Games, citing Chinese human rights abuses and suppression of democratic protests.

Canada will join the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia in a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics over human rights concerns, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday.

The announcement came after the White House, the Australian government and the UK government confirmed diplomatic boycotts of the Winter Games in February to protest Chinese human rights abuses. China has vowed to react with "firm countermeasures."

Trudeau said his government has been talks with allies about it in recent months.