Ensure Indians aren’t targeted at airports, MEA urges China

India on Monday issued a sharp message to Beijing, urging China to ensure that Indian nationals transiting through its airports are not singled out for scrutiny or subjected to any form of harassment, days after an Arunachal Pradesh–born passenger was detained for hours at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport.

Responding to queries at the weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi “fully shares the concern” over the recent Shanghai incident and expects concrete assurances from China.

“We expect the Chinese authorities to provide assurances that Indian citizens transiting through Chinese airports will not be selectively targeted, arbitrarily detained, or harassed, and that regulations governing international air travel will be respected,” Jaiswal said.

He said the Ministry of External Affairs was advising all Indian nationals to exercise due caution while travelling to or transiting through China, in light of the latest episode.

The case cited by reporters involved a woman from Arunachal Pradesh who was prevented from boarding her onward flight last month. After her passport was seized and her transit status questioned, Indian consular officials immediately intervened. China later defended the action, insisting its border inspection authorities acted “impartially” and in accordance with domestic laws.

Beijing also reignited tensions by reiterating its long-standing claim over Arunachal Pradesh -- describing it as “Zangnan” -- and asserting it had “never recognised” the Indian state. India had lodged a strong demarche over both the treatment of the passenger and the terminology used by China.

Asked about Pakistan’s support for China’s recent remarks on Arunachal Pradesh, Jaiswal dismissed both Beijing’s claims and Islamabad’s commentary.

“We have already commented on Arunachal Pradesh. It is and will remain an integral part of India, and we do not want any kind of interference in it,” he said.

The spokesperson reaffirmed that India-China engagement was focused on restoring normalcy and moving relations “in a positive direction”, based on discussions held between the two sides in recent months.

India has consistently maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is “indisputably Indian territory”, a position firmly restated in its demarche to Beijing.