A United States lawmaker has condemned China for selecting a PLA regiment commander involved in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash against India to become the torchbearer at the Winter Olympics.

Senator Jim Risch, a Republican who is a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the move “shameful” and said that the US will continue to support the sovereignty of India.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It's shameful that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Beijing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Beijing</a> chose a torchbearer for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Olympics2022</a> who's part of the military command that attacked <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> in 2020 and is implementing <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/genocide?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#genocide</a> against the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uyghurs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uyghurs</a>. The U.S. will cont. to support <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Uyghur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Uyghur</a> freedoms &amp; the sovereignty of India.
— Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenateForeign/status/1489038425328001030?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

“It’s shameful that Beijing chose a torchbearer for the Olympics 2022 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,” Risch wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, India has said that it’s top diplomat in Beijing won’t be attending the Olympics and disparaged China for politicising the marquee event.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/galwan-soldier-row-indias-top-diplomat-in-china-not-to-attend-beijing-winter-olympics-ceremonies-450145">Galwan soldier row: India's top diplomat in China not to attend Beijing Winter Olympics ceremonies</a>

Qi Fabao, the Chinese regiment commander, was among the troops present in 2020 during the high-altitude Himalayan skirmishes in Ladakh.

Fabao appeared on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in December and said he was “ready to return to the battlefield and fight again”.

The skirmishes at the Galwan Valley took place in 2020 where 20 Indian soldiers were killed—a first in nearly six decades.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/china-suffered-a-huge-loss-in-the-galwan-valley-clash-fabricated-stories-to-the-world-australian-newspaper-449997">China suffered a huge loss in the Galwan Valley clash, ‘fabricated’ stories to the world: Australian newspaper</a>

Several rounds of talks have been taken place between the Indian and Chinese Army to diffuse the situation, but no conclusive result has emerged.

The Olympics has already been mired in controversy over politics and the COVID-19.

Several western nations, including the US, have refused to send officials to Beijing for Friday’s opening ceremony in protest against human rights abuses by the Chinese government, Coronavirus origins and crushing democracy in Hong Kong.

(With inputs from agencies)

A United States lawmaker has condemned China for selecting a PLA regiment commander involved in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash against India to become the torchbearer at the Winter Olympics.

A United States lawmaker has condemned China for selecting a PLA regiment commander involved in the 2020 Galwan Valley clash against India to become the torchbearer at the Winter Olympics. Senator Jim Risch, a Republican who is a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the move “shameful” and said that the US will continue to support the sovereignty of India. 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 U.S. will cont. to support #Uyghur freedoms & the sovereignty of India. — Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member (@SenateForeign) February 3, 2022 × “It’s shameful that Beijing chose a torchbearer for the Olympics 2022 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,” Risch wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, India has said that it’s top diplomat in Beijing won’t be attending the Olympics and disparaged China for politicising the marquee event. Also read | Galwan soldier row: India's top diplomat in China not to attend Beijing Winter Olympics ceremonies Qi Fabao, the Chinese regiment commander, was among the troops present in 2020 during the high-altitude Himalayan skirmishes in Ladakh. Fabao appeared on Chinese state broadcaster CCTV in December and said he was “ready to return to the battlefield and fight again”. The skirmishes at the Galwan Valley took place in 2020 where 20 Indian soldiers were killed—a first in nearly six decades. Also read | China suffered a huge loss in the Galwan Valley clash, ‘fabricated’ stories to the world: Australian newspaper Several rounds of talks have been taken place between the Indian and Chinese Army to diffuse the situation, but no conclusive result has emerged. The Olympics has already been mired in controversy over politics and the COVID-19. Several western nations, including the US, have refused to send officials to Beijing for Friday’s opening ceremony in protest against human rights abuses by the Chinese government, Coronavirus origins and crushing democracy in Hong Kong. (With inputs from agencies)

US lawmaker condemns China’s ‘shameful’ move of choosing Galwan soldier as torchbearer at Winter Olympics

Beijing Winter Olympics: Jackie Chan, Wu Jingyu star in 3-day torch relay for mega event

Beijing`s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last just three days. The route taking the flame to landmarks including the Great Wall and Summer Palace is far more modest than the globe-spanning tour ahead of Beijing`s 2008 Summer Games that was disrupted by protests along the way.

Because of COVID-19, only selected members of the public will witness this week`s relay, as will be the case during the sporting events at the Olympics, which are taking place inside a "closed loop" that seals off athletes and other Olympics personnel from the public. "That is, of course, bad luck but what can you do?", Georgios Iliopoulos, Greece`s ambassador to China and a torch-bearer, said when asked if he was worried that the 2022 Games would be remembered as the "corona Olympics".

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beijing-olympics-eleven-personnel-in-hospital-with-covid-19-virus-none-serious-449794">Beijing Olympics: Eleven personnel in hospital with COVID-19 virus, none serious</a>

"You cannot stop life and we do the best we can to continue with what we have to deal with. The main thing is we keep together at this and leave it behind us as soon as possible," he told reporters. 
The Olympics will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20. The flame, which was flown from Greece in October, will travel to competition zones, including Zhangjiakou in neighbouring Hebei province, before ending its journey with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at Friday`s opening ceremony.

Wednesday`s event began under clear blue skies in Beijing when Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng lit a torch from a cauldron in the shape of traditional ritual vessel known as a zun, then handed it to 80-year-old Luo Zhihuan, who as a speed skater was China`s first winter sports world champion.

Among the torch-bearers was Qi Fabao, a regimental commander in the People`s Liberation Army who was seriously wounded during a 2020 border clash with Indian troops in the Galwan Valley that killed four Chinese soldiers. He took the torch from four-time short track speed skating gold medalist Wang Meng. 
More than 1,000 torch-bearers will participate in the relay. Asked during the sub-freezing morning how he felt as an Olympics torch-bearer, Yao responded: "Pretty cold, because the previous two times were for the Summer Olympics. But it`s warm to hold a flame in the winter."

Beijing`s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last just three days.

Beijing`s COVID-shortened Olympic torch relay began on Wednesday with basketball great Yao Ming and a Chinese soldier wounded in a bloody 2020 border clash with India among the first to carry the symbolic flame on a journey that will last just three days. The route taking the flame to landmarks including the Great Wall and Summer Palace is far more modest than the globe-spanning tour ahead of Beijing`s 2008 Summer Games that was disrupted by protests along the way. Because of COVID-19, only selected members of the public will witness this week`s relay, as will be the case during the sporting events at the Olympics, which are taking place inside a "closed loop" that seals off athletes and other Olympics personnel from the public. "That is, of course, bad luck but what can you do?", Georgios Iliopoulos, Greece`s ambassador to China and a torch-bearer, said when asked if he was worried that the 2022 Games would be remembered as the "corona Olympics". ALSO READ | Beijing Olympics: Eleven personnel in hospital with COVID-19 virus, none serious "You cannot stop life and we do the best we can to continue with what we have to deal with. The main thing is we keep together at this and leave it behind us as soon as possible," he told reporters. The Olympics will run from Feb. 4 to Feb. 20. The flame, which was flown from Greece in October, will travel to competition zones, including Zhangjiakou in neighbouring Hebei province, before ending its journey with the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at Friday`s opening ceremony. Wednesday`s event began under clear blue skies in Beijing when Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng lit a torch from a cauldron in the shape of traditional ritual vessel known as a zun, then handed it to 80-year-old Luo Zhihuan, who as a speed skater was China`s first winter sports world champion. Among the torch-bearers was Qi Fabao, a regimental commander in the People`s Liberation Army who was seriously wounded during a 2020 border clash with Indian troops in the Galwan Valley that killed four Chinese soldiers. He took the torch from four-time short track speed skating gold medalist Wang Meng. More than 1,000 torch-bearers will participate in the relay. Asked during the sub-freezing morning how he felt as an Olympics torch-bearer, Yao responded: "Pretty cold, because the previous two times were for the Summer Olympics. But it`s warm to hold a flame in the winter."

Winter Olympics: Torch begins COVID-shortened trek past Beijing landmarks

Thousands of demonstrators participated in a torchlight rally in Hong Kong on Sunday night in a mass show of support for a protest movement that shows no signs of flagging as it enters its seventh month.

Protesters hold torchlight rally in Hong Kong

torchlight-rally

Torchlight Rally, News on Torchlight Rally, stories on Torchlight Rally, articles on Torchlight Rally, Torchlight Rally stories at Wion, Torchlight Rally news, Torchlight Rally latest news