German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will not travel to the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.

"I am a big sports fan but this time I will definitely not go - in the past, it has also not been common for foreign ministers to go," she told dpa.

She said it was her personal decision and that Germany is still seeking a joint position with EU partners regarding a possible diplomatic boycott of the Games.

The United States already announced weeks ago it would not send any official representative to China for the Winter Olympics, citing the human rights situation in the world's most populous country.

The leadership in Beijing has faced criticism over its treatment of minorities such as the Uighurs and Tibetans, as well as for its suppression of the Hong Kong democracy movement and threats to Taiwan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called political boycotts of the Winter Games "unacceptable and wrong" at his recent annual press conference.

"We have always been against the politicization of sport," he said.

Putin plans to travel to Beijing for the opening ceremony in February.

dpa