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Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral part of India,” the Ministry of External Affairs said any denial of this fact by China does not alter the “indisputable reality.”
Arunachal Pradesh’s Prema Wangjom Thongdok says Chinese officials mocked her nationality and delayed her Japan trip during a Shanghai transit. (IMAGE: LINKEDIN)
India on Tuesday lodged a strong objection with Beijing after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh reported being detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport, where officials allegedly refused to recognise her Indian passport, a move New Delhi says violates international aviation norms and even China’s own rules.
Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral part of India,” the Ministry of External Affairs said any denial of this fact by China does not alter the “indisputable reality.”
Responding to comments made by China’s Foreign Ministry, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality.”
He added that despite raising the matter strongly with Chinese authorities, no justification for their actions has been provided so far.
“The issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel,” Jaiswal said.
According to the ministry, the Indian traveller, who carried all valid documents, was stopped without justification despite qualifying for China’s 24-hour visa-free transit facility available to all foreign nationals.
“The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries,” it added.
What China Said?
Responding to the charges made by the Arunachal Woman, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning repeated Beijing’s long-standing position on Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as Zangnan, or “South Tibet.”
Pema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen based in the UK, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 when her scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai reportedly escalated into a prolonged ordeal.
Thongdok claimed immigration officers declared her Indian passport “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth.
“Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ established illegally by India,” Mao said.
She denied accusations that Thongdok was mistreated at the airport, insisting that Chinese immigration authorities acted strictly in line with domestic “laws and regulations.”
“The law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, and the lawful rights and interests of the individual were fully protected. No compulsory measures were taken, and there was no so-called ‘detention’ or ‘harassment’,” Mao added.
She said the airline had arranged rest facilities and meals for the passenger during the delay and referred further queries to the relevant authorities.
November 25, 2025, 10:18 PM IST
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