Arunachal woman detained at Shanghai airport, India issues strong demarche

An Arunachal Pradesh-born Indian woman was allegedly harassed, mocked and detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport on Sunday after Chinese immigration officials refused to recognise her Indian passport, insisting that her birthplace — Arunachal Pradesh — is “part of China”. Taking exception to the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a strong demarche to the Chinese side in Beijing and in Delhi.

"Our Consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and extended fullest assistance to the stranded passenger. It was stressed that the passenger had been detained on ludicrous grounds. Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports," an official privy to the development told The Tribune. 

The Indian side, in its demarche, highlighted that the actions of the Chinese authorities are in contravention of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions relating to civil aviation. "At a time when both sides are working on restoring normalcy, such actions by the Chinese side introduce unnecessary obstructions to the process," the official said. 

Prema Wangjom Thongdok, originally from Rupa in West Kameng district and currently residing in the United Kingdom, said the ordeal unfolded on November 21 during a transit from London to Japan. The moment immigration officials spotted “Arunachal Pradesh” on her passport, she was told the document was “invalid”.

“They said Arunachal Pradesh is part of China. Your passport is invalid,” she recalled, adding that officials did not provide any legal basis for their claim when she demanded proof.

Thongdok alleged that several immigration officials and airline staff mocked her, laughed at her, and even suggested she should apply for a Chinese passport. 

Although she held a valid Japanese visa, she was prevented from boarding her connecting flight, her passport was confiscated, and she was allegedly pressured to buy a new ticket on China Eastern Airlines to be allowed to leave. She claimed significant financial loss from missed flights and hotel bookings.

Over the hours-long detention, she said she was denied food, internet access and basic assistance, and was kept in the transit area without clarity on her status.

With no resolution in sight, Thongdok contacted a friend in the UK, who alerted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai. Indian officials reached the airport late in the night, provided her food, and eventually ensured her release from detention.

Calling the episode “a direct insult to India’s sovereignty”, Thongdok has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take up the matter with Beijing and ensure Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh do not face similar harassment abroad.

The incident has once again highlighted the sensitivities surrounding Arunachal Pradesh, a state claimed by China but firmly asserted by New Delhi as an integral part of India.