As several lawmakers criticized China for choosing a PLA soldier who was part of the military command that attacked Indian troops in the Galwan valley in 2020 as the torchbearer for the Beijing Olympics, the United States asserted its support for India against Chinese aggression.
“When it comes to the India-China border situation, we continue to support direct dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the disputes. We have previously voiced our concerns on Beijing’s pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate its neighbours. As we always do, we stand with friends. We stand with partners and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values in the Indo-Pacific,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters during a press conference on Thursday.
Senator Marco Rubio said in his tweet, “Another outrageous example of the #CCP’s flagrant politicization of Beijing2022. Their decision to choose a soldier who participated in a 2020 ambush against Indian troops as torchbearer is appalling and deliberately provocative.”
Beijing is hosting the Winter Olympics amid a diplomatic boycott by the United States, European Union, and many other Western nations over alleged human rights violations in Xinjiang, including the imprisonment of over one million Uygur Muslim males and females.
