India boycotts Beijing Winter Olympics over China’s 'shameful' politics

Regarding China choosing a PLA commander involved in the Galwan clash for the 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay, India has expressed regret that Beijing has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics. The charge d'affaires of India in Beijing will not be attending the opening or closing ceremony of the event.

"It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics. I wish to inform you that our charge d'affaires of the embassy of India in Beijing will not be attending the opening or closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Olympics," Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at the weekly media briefing.

A Chinese state media report said a PLA commander, who had suffered severe injuries during the Galwan clash, became a torchbearer at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

"Qi Fabao, a PLA regiment commander who sustained head injury while fighting bravely in the #Galwan Valley border skirmish with #India, is a torchbearer during Wed's #Beijing2022 Winter Olympic Torch Relay," the China state-affiliated media Global Times tweeted.

The 2022 Winter Olympics will take place in Beijing from February 4 to 20.

The US, UK and Canada are among countries that have declared a diplomatic boycott of the Games.

A US lawmaker on February 3 slammed China for choosing the PLA commander for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics torch relay.

"It's shameful that Beijing chose a torchbearer for the Olympics2022 who's part of the military command that attacked India in 2020 and is implementing genocide against the Uyghurs. The US will continue to support Uyghur freedoms and the sovereignty of India," said Senator Jim Risch, a Republican who is a Ranking Member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

A report in an Australian investigative newspaper has revealed that China is hiding its losses in the Galwan Valley clash with India. The new research has shown that the PLA lost at least nine times more soldiers than its official count of four.

The report cited a year-long investigation involving discussions with mainland Chinese bloggers, information obtained from mainland-based Chinese citizens and media reports that Chinese authorities have since deleted.

(ANI)