India has issued a strong diplomatic protest to Beijing after an Arunachal Pradesh woman, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, was held for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport when Chinese officials allegedly refused to accept her Indian passport. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the traveller carried valid documents and qualified for China’s 24-hour visa-free transit facility, yet was stopped without justification, violating international aviation conventions as well as China’s own regulations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India and said China’s denial cannot change this “indisputable reality.” He added that despite India raising the issue strongly, China has not provided any explanation for its actions.
China, however, repeated its long-standing claim over Arunachal Pradesh, calling the region Zangnan or “South Tibet.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisted that the passport was considered “invalid” due to the birthplace entry and denied any mistreatment, claiming immigration followed domestic laws and that no “detention” occurred.
The incident has intensified tensions between the two nations, with India calling China’s behaviour unacceptable and a direct challenge to established international travel norms.
