India has decided not to boycott Beijing Winter Olympics diplomatically in line with the Government's neighbourhood first policy.

The decision comes despite a host of NGOs (non-governmental organisations) pressing the Centre to boycott the Beijing Olympics. Mostly, the NGOs linked to Tibetan cause or those backing the Tibetan issue were opposed to New Delhi backing Beijing on the Beijing Olympics.

The diplomatic corps was also said to be aligned with the NGOs backing opposition to the sporting extravaganza being held in Beijing in February this year.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, post-consultations with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, took the bold decision to not oppose the Winter Olympics being hosted by China at the diplomatic level despite backing opposition to the Beijing Olympics by the external affairs ministry, top sources said here on Tuesday.

Observers here said the decision is premised on treating neighbours differently which is the core of New Delhi’s geostrategic positioning based on neighbourhood first policy.

“If Government of India had taken the move to oppose the Beijing Olympics and effectively added up to the embarrassment of China, New Delhi would have created an avenue to invite embarrassment to New Delhi,” said an expert on China who did not wish to be quoted.

China is already facing opposition to the prestigious sporting event by the US and European Union over state-sponsored atrocities against Uyghurs in Xinjiang province and Tibetans in Tibet. However, Russia has backed the Beijing Winter Olympics beginning February 4.

The Atal Behari Vajpayee government that had wholesomely emphasized the importance of maintaininggood neighbourly relations would have also taken a similar decision, another expert said.

Amid the already strained ties between New Delhi and Beijing following the aggressive Galwan incident in May 2020 and subsequent anti-India propaganda warfare being orchestrated by China, the latest move could lead to an opportunity for resetting the ties between the two Asian giants, the sources added.