Arunachal Pradesh (Credit: OpenAI)
International News: Pema Wang Thongdok, an Indian citizen originally from Arunachal Pradesh and currently living in the United Kingdom, was travelling from London to Japan on 21 November 2025. During a scheduled three-hour transit at Shanghai Pudong Airport, Chinese immigration officials detained her, declaring her Indian passport invalid due to her birthplace being Arunachal Pradesh. Reports confirm she was held for more than 18 hours without legal justification. The incident triggered strong reaction in India. The news spread rapidly through social media.
According to Pema’s statement posted on X, the immigration authorities repeatedly claimed that Arunachal Pradesh belonged to China and demanded her acceptance of that statement to proceed. They confiscated her passport even though she had a valid Japanese visa. She was not allowed to board her connecting flight. Her ancestral village is located in Rupa, West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. She described the behaviour as harassment and intimidation. Officials allegedly insisted she acknowledge Chinese territorial claims.
Sources said India lodged immediate protests with Chinese officials in Beijing and New Delhi. The Indian side asserted clearly that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and undisputed part of India, and its residents travel internationally with fully valid Indian passports. India termed the detention absurd and baseless. Officials also reminded China of the Chicago and Montreal Conventions, which regulate civil aviation and passenger safety. India emphasised that nationality cannot be questioned based on political claims. Diplomatic communication was firm.
After initial distress, Pema contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a friend based in Britain. Consular officers intervened locally and extended immediate support. They strongly objected to the treatment and arranged her return through an alternate flight. She was safely relocated after intervention. Later, Pema wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the External Affairs Minister and other senior officials, stating the incident was a direct insult to India’s sovereignty and the dignity of people from Arunachal Pradesh.
Diplomatic sources indicated that China’s actions violated established protocols under the Chicago Convention and Montreal Convention, which govern international air transit. These agreements prohibit unjustified detention of legitimate passport holders, especially when travel documents are valid and cleared. Declaring a passport invalid due to political disagreement is considered unacceptable. Experts say immigration checks must follow aviation regulations and cannot be influenced by territorial disputes. The incident raised concerns over misuse of immigration control.
Analysts suggest the act may have been an indirect attempt to reinforce China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh. However, India’s response reflected zero tolerance towards such pressure tactics. Officials asserted that such behaviour neither changes the ground reality nor affects legal status. The statement “Arunachal is ours, do not remain under illusion” was communicated strongly. India made it clear that such actions undermine trust and contradict global regulations on passenger movement and documentation.
Although her transit was planned for just three hours, Pema remained detained for more than 18 hours before being permitted to travel back. She described the experience as frightening and humiliating. China Eastern Airlines reportedly supported immigration action during this period. Public reaction across India has been strong, with many demanding accountability. The case has now become a point of diplomatic discussion. India has reiterated that citizens from Arunachal Pradesh hold full rights as Indian nationals.
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