China warns that countries that join a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games will 'pay the price.'

China has warned that countries that join the diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will 'pay the price.' China issued the threat after Canada joined Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in boycotting the Winter Olympics in Beijing on Wednesday.

The boycotts have been described by China as "political posturing" and a smear campaign. The US was the first to declare the boycott this week, stating on Monday that government officials will not attend the Beijing Olympics in February because of China's human rights "atrocities," weeks after negotiations aimed at improving hostile relations between the world's two largest economies failed.

China said on Tuesday that the US and others would "pay a price" for their actions and warned of retaliation, but provided no details. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) attempted to deflect attention away from the increasing diplomatic boycott.

Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, said Beijing will be aware of long-standing Western worries about China's human rights situation. "(So) it shouldn`t be a surprise that we decided not to send diplomatic representation."

Trudeau's decision is likely to exacerbate tensions in a relationship already strained by Meng Wanzhou, the Chief Financial Officer of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, being detained on a US warrant. Trudeau is accused of making misleading assertions, according to a representative for the Chinese Embassy in Canada.

President Thomas Bach of the International Olympic Committee stated that the Committee has always been concerned about athletes' participation in the Olympic Games. So "we welcome the support for their Olympic teams all these governments have been emphasising," he told a video news conference.

"This is giving the athletes certainty and this is what the IOC is about."