An Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh has alleged that she was harassed at the Shanghai airport by airport officials who claimed Arunachal was part of China and asked her why she was carrying an Indian passport.
China has now denied the allegations of harassment against the woman.
What really happened
Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen who traveled from London to Japan on November 21, claimed that her three-hour scheduled layover turned into a traumatic ordeal after immigration officials declared her passport “invalid” only because Arunachal Pradesh was listed as her place of birth.
In a series of social media posts, Thongdok claimed that Chinese immigration officials detained her for about 18 hours on the grounds that her passport was “invalid” because she was born in Arunachal Pradesh.
After the ordeal, Thongdok said she got in touch with the Indian consulate through a friend based outside the UK.
What Arunachal CM Pema Khandu said
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu issued a strong message against discrimination against Thongdok.
“I am deeply shocked by the unacceptable treatment of Mrs. Prema Wangjo Thongdok, a proud Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, by the Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport. To subject her despite having a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial taunts is appalling. Otherwise, Arunachal Pradesh is part and parcel of the insult.” Khandu said in a post on X.
“Such conduct violates international norms and is an affront to the dignity of our citizens. I am confident that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of India are urgently dealing with this matter so that such incidents do not recur,” he further added.
China has never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh: Chinese spokesperson
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning denied claims that Thongdok, who traveled from London to Japan on November 21, was harassed by Chinese officials and was not even detained.
Thongdok was also provided a place to rest and was served food and drink as per Mao.
“We learned that China’s border control authorities went through the entire process in accordance with laws and regulations and fully protected the legal rights and interests of the person concerned,” she claimed.
But she insisted that Arunachal Pradesh is part of China and went so far as to say, “Zangnan is China’s territory. China has never recognized the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established by India.”
China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnam or Southern Tibet.
How India responded
According to an ANI source, India has lodged a strong protest against Thongdok’s treatment in both Delhi and Beijing.
A source told ANI that the Shanghai Indian Consulate has taken up the matter and extended its full assistance to Thongdok.
“It was pointed out that the passenger was detained for absurd reasons. Arunachal Pradesh is undeniably Indian territory and its residents have every right to hold and travel with Indian passports,” another source told the publication.
“It was also pointed out that the actions of the Chinese authorities are in violation of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions on Civil Aviation,” the source said.
