India issues strong demarche to China after a citizen from Arunachal Pradesh was arbitrarily detained in transit at Shanghai Airport. The MEA condemns the action as a violation of international travel norms and calls out China’s territorial denial.
Arunachal Pradesh Citizen Detention Shanghai MEA China
The already fragile attempts at normalizing bilateral relations between India and China have been dealt a severe blow, following an unprecedented incident at a major Chinese airport. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) delivered a sharp, unambiguous message, stating that the arbitrary detention of an Indian national at Shanghai Pudong International Airport is an action “most unhelpful” in advancing mutual trust and understanding between the two Asian giants.
The incident centers on Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, who was allegedly held and harassed for a shocking 18-hour ordeal while transiting through Shanghai on her way to Japan. The core reason for the detention was an alarming display of Chinese state policy: immigration officials reportedly refused to recognize her valid Indian passport, declaring it “invalid” solely because her place of birth was listed as Arunachal Pradesh. Thongdok alleged that she was subjected to mocking and questions concerning her Indian citizenship, with officials insisting the state—which Beijing controversially refers to as Zangnan—is “part of China.”
