India today said its envoy in Beijing would not attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in China in protest against China for allowing its soldier, who was present in a standoff with Indian troops in Ladakh in 2020, to join the Olympic torch relay.

When asked to comment on China honouring the PLA soldier with a chance to take part in the Winter Olympic torch relay, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi told the weekly media briefing that "we have seen the reports on this issue. It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics," reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"I wish to inform you that our Charge d'Affaires of the Indian embassy in Beijing will not be attending the opening or closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics 2022," he said.

At least 20 Indian troops were killed during the Galwan Valley clash in summer 2020 and international media reports said more than 40 Chinese troops too had died in that faceoff that sent the Sino-India ties plunging to a new low.

India and China are locked in a bitter military standoff in eastern Ladakh over their unresolved borders.

The sports channel of India's public broadcaster Doordarshan will also not telecast live the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing.