India has formally protested against China after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh was held for over 18 hours at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport. The incident occurred on November 21, when Chinese immigration officials reportedly declared her Indian passport “invalid” because her place of birth was listed as Arunachal Pradesh — territory that China claims as “part of China.”
The woman, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who resides in the United Kingdom, was en route to Japan on a layover when she was prevented from boarding her connecting flight. According to her account, she was mocked by Chinese officials, questioned about her nationality, and pressured to apply for a Chinese passport.
Thongdok shared her experience on social media, saying officials repeatedly told her that her birthplace undermined her Indian citizenship. She added that immigration and airline staff laughed at her and made degrading remarks, creating a humiliating environment. At one point, her passport was reportedly confiscated, and she was denied proper food and facilities while confined to the transit area.
The matter escalated swiftly. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a demarche — both in Beijing and in New Delhi — condemning the detention as baseless and unacceptable. Simultaneously, the Indian consulate in Shanghai intervened, providing support to Thongdok until she was allowed to leave.
New Delhi strongly rejected the grounds on which she was held, reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is “indisputably Indian territory” and reaffirming the right of its citizens to travel on Indian passports. Government officials argued that China’s treatment of Thongdok violated international aviation norms and raised concerns about diplomatic friction at a time when both countries are seeking to stabilise relations.
The Indian side also referenced international aviation conventions, calling China’s behavior a violation of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions. According to sources, such actions create “unnecessary obstructions” just when bilateral ties are being restored.
The incident sheds new light on the recurring dispute between India and China over Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing’s refusal to recognise the region as Indian territory has long fueled tension, including administrative moves such as renaming places in the state. India, on its part, continues to assert that such claims are baseless and infringe on its sovereignty.
Thongdok described the episode as deeply demeaning and urged the Indian government to demand accountability from China, seek compensation, and ensure similar mistreatment does not happen to other Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh.
