India Lodges Strong Protest After Arunachal Woman Detained at Shanghai Airport

India has lodged a strong protest with China following the alleged detention and harassment of an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen residing in the United Kingdom, was transiting through Shanghai on 21st November when Chinese immigration officials reportedly declared her Indian passport "invalid" because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth.

Ms Thongdok recounted being singled out from a queue and told, "Arunachal, not India, China, China. Your passport is invalid." The incident prompted immediate diplomatic action from India, which issued a demarche in both Beijing and New Delhi. The Indian consulate in Shanghai provided assistance to the stranded passenger.

Government sources reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and its residents possess full rights to hold and travel on Indian passports. India also highlighted that Chinas actions violated international civil aviation norms, including the Chicago and Montreal Conventions, warning that such conduct hinders efforts to stabilise bilateral relations.