Australian officials will not attend the Beijing Winter Olympics, in a formal boycott of the Games over China's human rights abuses against Uyghur minorities in the country.
The US this week affirmed it would not send any diplomats or officials to the Games, while still allowing its athletes to compete.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australian athletes would compete at the Games despite the diplomatic boycott.
He said it should come as "no surprise" that Australia would boycott the event, citing the breakdown in the relationship with China in recent years.
"I'm doing it because it's in Australia's national interest," he said. "It's the right thing to do."
China has vowed to respond with "firm countermeasures" to the boycott.
