The decision follows numerous countries conducting a diplomatic boycott of the Games due to human rights concerns in China.

Japan, while a partner of the US, has strong economic ties to China and has avoided explicitly labelling the move as a boycott.

Instead of a Government delegation, it will send officials with direct ties to the Olympics, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news briefing.

These officials include Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee President Seiko Hashimoto, and Yasuhiro Yamashita and Junichi Kawai, the heads of the Japanese Olympic Committee and Japanese Paralympic Committee, respectively.

"Japan believes that it's important for China to ensure freedom, respect for basic human rights and the rule of law, which are universal values of the international community," Matsuno said.

"Japan's Government decided on its response to the Beijing Winter Olympics by taking those points into consideration and deciding on its own."

The absence of Japanese officials has not been labelled under any specific term.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China welcomed the Olympic officials and athletes from Japan.

China did not send a Government delegation to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics this year, but only a sports delegation, led by the sports bureau chief.

Criticism over China's record on human rights includes alleged mass imprisonment, torture, forcibly separating families, forced labour and detaining thousands in internment camps.

China has denied the allegations and claimed internment camps are training centres designed to stamp out Islamist extremism and separatism.

Australia, Canada, Britain and the US are among the countries to have already announced a diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 in protest at China’s human rights record.

Others have supported China's hosting of the Olympics, including Russia.

France, South Korea and several other countries have announced they will not boycott the Games.