Feb 3, 2022: According to a report by the AFP, India announced that it would not send its top diplomat in China to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, after a Chinese soldier wounded in border clash between the countries carried the symbolic torch.

The main source of contention to India is the inclusion of Qi Fabao, a People’s Liberation Army regimental commander who was seriously wounded during a 2020 border clash with Indian troops that killed four Chinese soldiers, as a torch bearer.

He was among injured in the clash that turned in to what was the bloodiest clash between the two nations in decades. The clashes resulted in the deaths of 20 soldiers from the Indian side.

According to Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for India’s foreign ministery, said the head of India’s embassy in Beijing would not attend the opening or closing ceremonies following the decision. “It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like Olympics.”

The Chinese meanwhile defended the decision to include the PLA soldier, saying, “For this torch relay, we abided by the principles of a wide selection process according to specific procedure,”

According to Zhao Weidong, spokesperson for the organising committee,

“Many of those who participated in the torch relay were normal everyday frontline workers. They all represent exemplary individuals from the normal workforce.”

India’s sole participant in the winter games will be skier Arif Mohammad Khan.

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