Arunachal Woman Detained and Harassed at Shanghai Airport
India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest (demarche) with China after an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh was allegedly detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The detention, which occurred on November 21, centered on the Chinese authorities’ refusal to recognize her valid Indian passport, citing the inclusion of her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, a territory claimed by China.
The Ordeal of the Passenger
The detained woman, identified as Prema Wangjom Thongdok, is an Indian national who resides in the United Kingdom and works as a financial advisor. She was traveling from London to Japan with a scheduled three-hour transit layover in Shanghai.
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Detention Grounds: Ms. Thongdok stated in a series of social media posts and interviews that Chinese immigration officials and personnel from China Eastern Airlines declared her Indian passport “invalid” because her birthplace was listed as Arunachal Pradesh, which they insisted was Chinese territory.
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Harassment Allegations: She alleged that during her prolonged detention, airport staff mocked and laughed at her, repeatedly stating that she was “Chinese, not Indian,” and even suggested she should apply for a Chinese passport.
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Denial of Basic Facilities: Ms. Thongdok claimed she was confined to the transit area, her passport was confiscated, and she was denied access to food and basic facilities. She was also blocked from boarding her connecting flight to Japan, despite holding a valid Japanese visa, and was allegedly pressured to buy a fresh ticket from the same airline.
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Resolution: Her ordeal ended only after she managed to contact a friend in the UK, who in turn alerted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai and the Embassy in Beijing. Indian consular officials intervened, provided her with assistance, including food, and eventually secured her release late that night, allowing her to travel onward to Thailand.
India’s Firm Diplomatic Response
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) immediately issued a strong demarche to the Chinese side, simultaneously in Beijing and New Delhi, the very day the incident took place.
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Sovereignty Asserted: India firmly conveyed to the Chinese government that Arunachal Pradesh is “indisputably” Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports. The detention was stressed as being based on “ludicrous grounds” and a direct affront to India’s sovereignty.
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Violation of Conventions: The MEA highlighted that the actions of the Chinese authorities contravene international civil aviation rules, including the Chicago and Montreal Conventions.
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Concerns on Bilateral Ties: Sources indicated that India also noted that such actions introduce “unnecessary obstructions” to the ongoing process of restoring normalcy in bilateral relations between the two countries.
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On-Ground Support: The Indian Consulate in Shanghai provided immediate on-ground support to the stranded passenger.
Call for Accountability
The incident has reignited public and political debate surrounding China’s long-standing and aggressive territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing refers to as “Zangnan” or the southern part of Tibet.
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Ms. Thongdok has appealed to the Indian government to raise the matter strongly, seek accountability, and secure compensation for the “harassment, distress, and financial losses” she faced.
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Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu also condemned the treatment as “unacceptable” and an “affront to the dignity of Indian citizens,” reiterating that the state is an integral part of India.
The detention, seen by many as a calculated move targeting an Indian citizen based on their birthplace, marks an escalation of the territorial dispute into the realm of international travel and civil aviation norms.
