According To Laws: China Denies Allegation Of Harassment Of Indian Woman at Shanghai Airport

Beijing: After a recent report of harassment of Indian woman at Shanghai airport surfaced online, China has responsed to the allegations. China has now denied the allegations that an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was harassed at Shanghai airport. In its response, China has said that the actions taken by the Chinese immigration officials were as per laws. 

It is to be noted here that Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen alleged that her three-hour transit turned into 18-hour ordeal after immigration officials called her passport "invalid" just because it had Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. Notably, Pema was travelling from London to Japan on November 21.

In response to the allegation of the woman, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that the woman was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment as alleged by her.

How Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu reacted to it?

Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu reacting to the situation, said, ''I am deeply shocked by the unacceptable treatment of Ms. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a proud Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, by Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport.''

''Subjecting her despite a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling. Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive,'' he added.

He further added, ''Such conduct violates international norms and is an affront to the dignity of our citizens. I am confident that the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India will take up this matter urgently that such incidents are not repeated.''

Meanwhile, it is to be noted that Prema Wangjom Thongdok from Arunachal Pradesh earlier claimed that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport declared her Indian passport invalid and delayed her travel to Japan.

What allegations were made by Prema Wangjom Thongdok?

In her statement to ANI she said, "... When I tried to question them and ask them what the issue was, they said, 'Arunachal is not part of India' and started mocking and laughing and saying things like 'you should apply for the Chinese passport, you're Chinese, you're not Indian..."

"I am an Indian citizen residing in the UK for about 14 years, and I was travelling from London to Japan via a transit in Shanghai... One of the officials from the Chinese immigration came over and singled me out of the queue. I asked her what was happening, and she went on to say, 'Arunachal- not India, China-China, your visa is not acceptable. Your passport is invalid'... When I tried to question them and ask them what the issue was, they said, 'Arunachal is not part of India' and started mocking and laughing and saying things like 'you should apply for the Chinese passport, you're Chinese, you're not Indian'... I have transited through Shanghai in the past with no issues at all. I couldn't get in touch with my family for a very long time...,'' she said.

She further said, ''The airline staff of China Eastern and about two other immigration officers were speaking in their language and saying and pointing out and saying Arunachal and laughing and calling it China, not India. That was a very humiliating, questionable behaviour from the immigration staff as well as the airline staff... I called up the Shanghai and Beijing Indian embassies and within an hour, the Indian officials came to the airport, got me some food and spoke through the issues with them and helped me get out of the country. A very long ordeal, 18 hours, but glad that I'm out of there..."