'Arunachal is part of China': Indian woman detained at Shanghai airport over passport

Guwahati: A woman from Arunachal Pradesh has alleged that Chinese authorities detained and harassed her at Shanghai Pudong Airport after refusing to accept her Indian passport during a transit stop.

Pema Wang Thongdok, in posts on X, said immigration officials held her for "18 hours" on November 21, claiming her passport was "invalid" because her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was "part of China."

Thongdok was travelling from London to Japan with a three-hour layover in Shanghai when the incident occurred.

She wrote on X, "I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025, on claims by China immigration and China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited. They called my Indian passport invalid, as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory."

In another post, she added that immigration officials told her her "Indian passport is invalid because I was born in Arunachal Pradesh."

According to her, Chinese officers refused to recognise her Indian citizenship, stating, "Arunachal Pradesh is part of China," and confiscated her passport, preventing her from boarding her flight to Japan despite having a valid visa.

Thongdok said multiple immigration officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her, suggesting she should "apply for a Chinese passport." She was denied access to food, airport facilities, and official updates on her situation.

She could only get her passport back after agreeing to purchase a new ticket exclusively on China Eastern Airlines, resulting in financial losses from missed flights and hotel bookings.

Confined to the transit area, she could not rebook flights or move freely. Running out of options, she contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a friend in the UK. With consular help, she was finally able to leave the airport late at night and continue her journey.

Calling the incident a "direct insult to India's sovereignty," Thongdok urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian authorities to raise the matter with Beijing.

She asked the government to ensure accountability, seek compensation, and guarantee protection for all Indians from Arunachal Pradesh against similar discrimination abroad.