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The 2022 Winter Olympics will be held from February 4-22 next year. (Reuters) Describing China’s move to get a Chinese soldier involved in the Galwan valley clash as a torchbearer as “regrettable”, India on Thursday said that the Indian envoy in China will not attend the opening or closing ceremonies of the winter Olympics in Beijing.
This was conveyed by MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in his weekly briefing.
Live telecast of opening and closing ceremonies of winter Olympics have also been banned.
Qi Fabao, a regiment commander of the People’s Liberation Army, who had fought during the Galwan Valley clashes with Indian troops in June 2020, and had received a commendation for his role in the fight, was one of the torchbearers for the Olympic flame for the Winter Olympics beginning in Beijing from February 4. His images were released by Global Times, an English-language news platform associated with the Chinese government in a tweet.
It has been a year and a half since the troops clashed in violent hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley that resulted in casualties on both sides, but China has used images and symbolism related to the clash and the valley, projecting that it had the upper hand in the clashes, even as the two countries are embroiled in political, diplomatic and military talks to resolve the standoff that began in May 2020.
“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.” Global Times tweeted on Wednesday morning.
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