Australia has joined a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Australian officials will not attend the event in a formal boycott over China's human rights abuses against Uyghur minorities in the country.

The Chinese government has committed - and continues to commit - extensive crimes against humanity against the Turkic Muslim population, inlcuyidng the Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other communities.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty in violation of international law; persecution of an identifiable ethnic or religious group; enforced disappearance; torture; murder; and alleged inhumane acts intentionally causing great suffering or serious injury to mental or physical health, notably forced labor and sexual violence.

The Government’s oppression of Turkic Muslims “has reached unprecedented levels”, according to Human Rights Watch.

The USA this week announced it would not send any diplomats or officials to the Games, but will allow its athletes to compete.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has fallen in line behind the US, saying Australian athletes will compete at the Games despite the diplomatic boycott.

He pointed to a breakdown in the relationship with China in recent years as a reason for the boycott.

“I'm doing it because it's in Australia's national interest,” he said. 

“It's the right thing to do.”

Mr Morrison said a diplomatic freeze on Australia from Beijing means Australia had been unable to raise its concerns about human rights directly with Chinese leaders.

“We have been .. very happy to talk to the Chinese government about these issues and there has been no obstacle to that occurring on our side,” he said.

“But the Chinese government has consistently not accepted those opportunities for us to meet about those issues.

“So it's not surprising therefore that Australian government officials would not be going to China for those Games.”

The Games begin in February next year.

China's embassy has denied the significance of Australia’s decision.  

"Australia's success at the Beijing Winter Olympics depends on the performance of Australian athletes, not on the attendance of Australian officials, and the political posturing by some Australian politicians," a spokesperson said. 

“The Australian side's statement that it will not send officials to the Beijing Winter Olympics runs counter to its publicly pronounced expectation to improve China-Australia relations.”