Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 26: A day after an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh was detained at Shanghai International Airport over China’s refusal to recognise her Indian passport, India has issued a strong protest to Beijing, reaffirming that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable” part of the country.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the matter had been taken up “strongly” with Chinese authorities. His remarks came after China’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the detained traveler, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, had been treated “as per Chinese laws.”
“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality,” Mr. Jaiswal asserted.
On Sunday, November 23, 2025, Ms. Thongdok revealed on social media that she had been held at Shanghai airport for more than 18 hours during her transit on November 21. She alleged that immigration officials and China Eastern Airlines staff declared her Indian passport “invalid,” claiming her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was not part of India but Chinese territory.
The incident surfaced days after China Eastern Airlines resumed its Shanghai–Delhi service on November 9, 2025 — a significant step following the meeting between Indian and Chinese leaders on August 31 at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, restoring direct flight connectivity after a five-year break.
As the incident gained attention, Indian officials confirmed on Monday, November 24, that a “strong demarche” had been delivered to the Chinese side. Ms. Thongdok was on a connecting flight to Japan when she was allegedly stopped, questioned, and denied transit rights.
“The detention issue has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel,” Mr. Jaiswal said.
He further noted that China’s actions violated its own regulations that permit visa-free transit for up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries.
With India demanding answers, the incident has once again spotlighted China’s repeated attempts to question India’s territorial sovereignty — and New Delhi’s firm, unambiguous stance on Arunachal Pradesh.