A troubling incident at Shanghai Pudong International Airport has escalated into a diplomatic dispute between India and China. On November 21, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh residing in the UK, was held for 18 hours. Chinese immigration officials reportedly deemed her Indian passport invalid because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth, a region China claims. Thongdok, a financial advisor in transit from London to Japan, recounted a harrowing experience of alleged harassment, including being mocked and told Arunachal Pradesh is not part of India. She also claimed to have been denied basic necessities like food for hours and access to the internet, as Google is inaccessible in China. After contacting friends who alerted Indian authorities, the Indian consulate in Shanghai intervened, facilitating her release and onward travel. India has issued a strong demarche to Beijing, emphasizing that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and its citizens have the right to travel with Indian passports. The incident raises concerns about civil aviation conventions and India’s sovereignty.
Shanghai Airport Incident: Arunachal Passport Sparks Diplomatic Row
By The Chhattisgarh1 Min Read