India has firmly raised with China the issue of the detention of a woman from Arunachal Pradesh at the Shanghai airport
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable and integral part of India, stressing that “this is an obvious fact, and no amount of denial by China can alter this truth.”
Officials responded immediately when the incident involving Prema Thongdok became known. According to them, the Government of India issued a strong demarche to Beijing following her detention.
A day after the Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh was stopped at Shanghai International Airport because Chinese officials allegedly refused to accept her Indian passport, Mr. Jaiswal confirmed that India had taken up the matter with China in a strong and clear manner.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed that the woman, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, had been handled according to Chinese law.
However, Ms. Thongdok posted on social media on November 23, 2025, saying, “I was held at Shanghai airport for more than 18 hours on November 21, 2025. China Immigration and @chinaeasternair declared my Indian passport invalid because my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory.”
Notably, China Eastern Airlines had resumed its Shanghai–Delhi operations on November 9, 2025, after leaders of both countries met on August 31, 2025, during the SCO summit in Tianjin, restoring air connectivity after five years.
MEA urged to take action for the woman’s ordeal
Officials told The Hindu on November 24, 2025, that a formal and strong protest had been lodged with China after Ms. Thongdok’s detention. She was on transit at Shanghai International Airport on her way to Japan when the incident occurred.
Mr. Jaiswal added, “We have taken up the detention matter firmly with the Chinese authorities. They have not yet provided any justification for their actions, which go against several international air travel conventions. Their conduct also contradicts their own rules that permit visa-free transit of up to 24 hours for citizens of all countries.”
