Galwan clash PLA officer appointed games torchbearer
Taking strong exception to China’s decision to honour its army officer involved in the Galwan valley clash with India in 2020, India on Thursday decided not to send its diplomats for the opening and closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The Chinese officer has been appointed as the torchbearer for the forthcoming event.
Identified as Qi Fabao, the officer was reportedly injured and captured by the Indian forces during the clash in which 20 Indian personnel, including the commanding officer, were killed on June 15, 2020. The Chinese officer was captured when he tried to mount an attack along with his troops on the Indian forces in the Galwan Valley. His photograph carrying the Olympic torch was put up by the State-owned media The Global Times.
Reacting to the development, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the Chinese action of honouring the commander as “regrettable”.
India’s chargé d’affaires in the Beijing embassy will not be attending the opening or closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, he said. However, India will participate in the Games with a lone athlete.
Some other countries, including the US, too have decided not to send their envoys for the Games. Their sportspersons, however, will represent their countries in the mega event.
Meanwhile, India has decided not to broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing. Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati said on Thursday DD Sports channel will not telecast live the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing. The opening ceremony will be held on February 4 (Friday), and the closing ceremony on February 20.
The announcement came shortly after the Indian Government decided that its envoy will not attend the opening or closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics as China has chosen a military commander involved in the Galwan Valley clashes as its torchbearer for the mega sporting event.
Taking to Twitter, Prasar Bharati CEO, Shashi Shekhar Vempati tweeted, consequent to the announcement by MEA, DD Sports activities channel won’t telecast reside the opening and shutting ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing. Consequent to the announcement by @meaindia, @ddsportschannel won’t telecast reside the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing.
A senior member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee has slammed China’s choice of an army officer as the torchbearer for the Beijing Winter Olympics. Jim Risch, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member, tweeted: “It’s shameful that Beijing chose a torchbearer for the Olympics who’s part of the military command that attacked India in 2022 and is implementing genocide against the Uyghurs. The US will continue to support Uyghur freedoms and the sovereignty of India.”