India to China: Assure Safety for Indian Transits After Arunachal Woman Held 18 Hours in Shanghai
India protests 18-hour detention of Arunachal-born citizen at Shanghai airport, seeks China’s assurance.
India on Monday lodged a formal protest with China following the 18-hour detention of Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) demanded assurances that Indian travellers will not face arbitrary detention, selective targeting, or harassment while transiting through Chinese airports.
Thongdok, who was travelling from London to Japan with a layover in Shanghai, was reportedly pulled out of the immigration queue and told her Indian passport was “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. She was held in a restricted area with limited food and facilities, and allegedly mocked by officials who suggested she apply for a Chinese passport.
Indian consular officials intervened to secure her release and facilitate onward travel. The MEA described the detention as “arbitrary” and in violation of international air travel conventions as well as China’s own visa-free transit rules, which allow up to 24-hour layovers for eligible passengers.
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Responding to the incident, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed India’s position that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of the country. The ministry underscored that no foreign denial can alter India’s sovereign claim, highlighting the incident within the broader context of China’s repeated attempts to undermine India’s territorial claims.
The case has raised concerns for Indian travellers and airlines as China gradually resumes air connectivity with India. China Eastern Airlines restarted its Shanghai–Delhi service in November after a five-year hiatus, and incidents like the Shanghai detention could deter passengers from using Chinese airports as transit hubs.
India has advised its citizens to exercise “due discretion” when transiting through China, signaling caution without imposing a travel ban. The MEA’s warning underscores that any recurrence of similar incidents could provoke stronger diplomatic responses and influence travel and commercial aviation decisions in the region.
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