The US President was asked by reporters if the US would consider a diplomatic boycott of the games, Mr Biden said it was “something we're considering.” The move would mean the US would not send an official delegation to the opening ceremony of the games next February.

       The 78-year-old made the intervention following talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

       White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki also answered questions about the sporting event and raised concerns over China’s record on human rights.

       She said: "There are areas that we do have concerns: human rights abuses. We have serious concerns.

       “Certainly there are a range of factors as we look at what our presence would be.”

       The Soviet Union responded with its own boycott of the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

       Relations between the US and China have been strained for several years and were on the brink of a trade war under former President Donald Trump.

       Washington has recently been heavily critical of Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea and military aggression towards Taiwan.

       President Biden held a virtual call with Xi Jinping for more than three hours on Tuesday.

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       The two leaders discussed Afghanistan, global energy markets, trade, the climate, military issues and the coronavirus pandemic.

       President Biden acknowledged the need for the two world superpowers to avoid a conflict.

       He said: "It seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended.

       "Just simple, straightforward competition."

       Jake Sullivan, US national security adviser, said they also agreed to look into the possibility of arms control talks.

       Mr Sullivan said President Biden and Xi Jinping will "look to begin to carry forward discussion on strategic stability".

       He added: “President Biden did raise with President Xi the need for a strategic stability set of conversations... that that needs to be guided by the leaders and led by senior empowered teams on both sides that cut across security, technology and diplomacy.

       "You will see at multiple levels an intensification of the engagement to ensure that there are guardrails around this competition so that it doesn't veer off into conflict."