The United States and China are continuing discussions about a virtual summit that will be held next week between their leaders. However, there is one topic of concern: 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. 

President Xi JinpingChina could use the next week’s discussion to invite President Obama personally Joe BidenAccording to two sources familiar with this matter, they will be there in February for the Beijing event.

Biden could decline the invitation and break off their relationship; accept or contradict the message of democracy in his administration. 

Both the White House and National Security Council refused to discuss how President Trump would react to an invitation like this. Karine Jean-Pierre was previously White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary and stated that staff were planning details for the summit which would be focused on managing countries’ competition rather than on “deliverables”. 

The issue is further complicated by the fact that two Western diplomats are still talking about a “diplomatic boycott” of games. In this case, athletes could attend but heads of state wouldn’t, as the Group of Seven (or G-7) nations do not want to participate. 

According to these officials, a decision on the government’s attendance has yet not been reached.

The activists called for an international boycott of the so-called “Genocide Games”, and asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to move or postpone the games, citing China’s violations against the Uyghur people.

The State Department condemned “mass detention” and “political indoctrination campaigns” against China’s ethnic minorities. It estimates that they are forced to work in 1,200 camps run by the state. 

According to the agency, “In Xinjiang” the government acts as the trafficker. in a July factsheet 

Ned Price, State Department spokesperson, stated that an organized boycott would be “something we absolutely wish to discuss with allies” in April. However, later the department clarified that it wasn’t discussing full boycotts of the Games. 

Discordance has not subsided. An alliance of senators from the United States, including Sen. Mitt Romney (Republican), proposed that funding for travel expenses to Games be excluded in a forthcoming defense spending bill. Politico reports that the U.S. blocked Canada and the U.S. from including language applauding the Beijing Games in their joint statement at the G-20 summit. 

When asked for comments on the current administration’s position regarding the boycott, the State Department spokesperson referred CNBC the remarks made at The New York Times DealBook Summit by Secretary Antony Blinken. 

Andrew Ross Sorkin told Blinken, “This is our most complex and consequential relation.” 

Biden will be joining the talks with Xi after a win at home, thanks to the passage of Xi’s bipartisan infrastructure agreement. In Glasgow, the U.S. and China pledged to cooperate on climate issues. On Wednesday, the top U.S. trade representative, Katherine Tai (Trade Representative), stated that there is progress in discussions regarding the enforcement of the Trump-negotiated trade agreement. 

According to sources, the Biden-Xi virtual summit will offer a chance for the pair of world leaders to meet face-to-face since Biden was elected. Even though the two leaders were close friends before their appointment as heads of state, phone conversations have become the norm. coronavirus pandemicXi opted to stay put and not travel internationally. 

According to diplomats, Xi could also decide not to go to Beijing Games if it seems that Western leaders won’t be there in person.

The host nation’s leader is expected to invite Biden personally to the Games. Yoshihide, Japan’s prime Minister, stated to reporters in March that he would likely invite Biden to the Tokyo Summer Olympics. 

As Japan’s Covid cases rose, the U.S. issued Japan a warning to not travel in May 2021. Jill Biden was the first lady to attend the Tokyo opening ceremony.

Disclosure: NBC Sports is owned by NBCUniversal, a parent company of CNBC. NBC Olympics owns the U.S. broadcast rights for all Summer and Winter Games until 2032.