India Lodges Strong Protest After Chinese Officials Detain Arunachal Woman During Airport Transit

New Delhi:

India has filed a strong diplomatic protest with China in both Beijing and New Delhi following the detention of an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh while transiting through China. A significant diplomatic dispute has emerged after the woman was detained, interrogated, and reportedly harassed for more than 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Chinese immigration authorities reportedly refused to recognize her Indian passport, asserting that her birthplace—Arunachal Pradesh—was "Chinese territory."

The incident has prompted an immediate and firm response from New Delhi, with India describing the detention as "ludicrous" and "unacceptable."

The passenger, Pem Wang Thongdok, was traveling from London to Japan on November 21. Her journey included a planned three-hour layover in Shanghai.

She became caught in a prolonged immigration process during which officials allegedly invalidated her documentation solely because she was born in Arunachal Pradesh.

Thongdok shared her experience on X, writing: "I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025 on claims by China immigration & @chinaeasternair. They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory."

Her post rapidly gained attention, generating widespread indignation and tagging Indian authorities and media organizations for urgent consideration.

India Responds with Decisive Diplomatic Measures

New Delhi acted promptly once the incident was reported. Government sources informed NDTV that India has implemented a strong and coordinated diplomatic response.

Strong Diplomatic Protest in Beijing and Delhi

Officials confirmed that India filed a strong demarche with the Chinese government in both Beijing and New Delhi on the same day.

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai concurrently intervened, addressing the matter directly with local authorities and providing "fullest assistance" to the stranded traveler.

India Deems China's Rationale 'Ludicrous'

The Indian side clearly stated that detaining a traveler on such grounds was "ludicrous," maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory and all its residents are fully entitled to carry and travel with Indian passports.

New Delhi emphasized that China's refusal to acknowledge this was both unfounded and provocative.

Violation of International Aviation Agreements Emphasized

India further highlighted that China's actions directly contravened the Chicago and Montreal Conventions, which govern international civil aviation standards including the treatment of transit passengers.

Officials stressed that rejecting a valid Indian passport during a layover violated established international protocols.

Concern Regarding Disruption of Normalization Efforts

The Indian government also expressed concern that such incidents create "unnecessary obstructions" when both nations are engaged in delicate processes to restore normalcy in bilateral relations. The message was unambiguous: Beijing's conduct threatens to undermine confidence-building progress.

China claims nearly the entire state of Arunachal Pradesh as part of "South Tibet," a claim India has consistently rejected. This ongoing territorial dispute frequently manifests in discriminatory travel policies, such as stapled visas or refusal to recognize Indian documents issued in the region.

However, Thongdok's case is particularly concerning because she was not attempting to enter China but merely transiting through Shanghai, making the extended detention and questioning even more problematic from a diplomatic perspective.

She eventually reached the Indian Consulate after hours of interrogation and uncertainty.