China has rejected allegations that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed by immigration officials during a layover at Shanghai airport, insisting that authorities acted strictly in accordance with domestic laws. The traveller, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen en route from London to Japan on November 21, said her three-hour transit turned into an ordeal after officials declared her passport “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied the allegations, saying no coercive measures or harassment occurred and that the airline had provided the traveller with food, water and a place to rest.
Mao reiterated Beijing’s longstanding territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, which China refers to as “Zangnan”, asserting that the region is Chinese territory and that Beijing does not recognise the Indian-administered state. Indian government sources said New Delhi lodged a strong diplomatic protest with China in both capitals the same day, firmly asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is “indisputably” part of India and that its residents are fully entitled to carry and travel on Indian passports. The Indian Consulate in Shanghai also intervened locally and offered assistance to the stranded passenger.
Thongdok, in social media posts, claimed she had been held for 18 hours by immigration officials before she was able to contact the Indian consulate through a UK-based friend. With support from consular staff, she was eventually able to board a late-night flight out of Shanghai. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu condemned the incident, calling it a violation of international norms and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens.
