India Protests Detention of Arunachal Woman in China, CM Khandu Denounces Racial Mockery

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has strongly condemned the detention of Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was held for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport after Chinese immigration officials refused to recognize her valid Indian passport. Khandu described the incident as "humiliation and racial mockery" and demanded urgent intervention by India’s Ministry of External Affairs to raise the issue with Beijing. He reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and called the Chinese actions a violation of international norms and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens.

Pema Wangjom Thongdok was transiting from London to Japan on November 21, 2025, when the scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai turned into a prolonged ordeal. Chinese immigration officers allegedly declared her Indian passport invalid, citing her birthplace—Arunachal Pradesh—as "Chinese territory." According to Thongdok's account on social media, her passport was confiscated, she was confined to the transit area without adequate food or facilities, and was denied boarding on her connecting flight despite possessing a valid Japanese visa. She was also pressured to buy a new ticket exclusively from China Eastern Airlines before being released.

The incident has triggered a strong diplomatic response from India, which issued a "strong demarche" to China, emphasizing that the actions contravene international civil aviation conventions and exacerbate tensions amid ongoing border disagreements between the two countries. Thongdok has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials to ensure accountability, demand compensation for the harassment, and safeguard the rights of Arunachal citizens abroad.

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This episode has reignited concerns over China's claim on Arunachal Pradesh, which it terms "South Tibet," a claim India vehemently rejects. Khandu’s remarks highlight the sensitivity of the issue and the government’s intent to assert India’s sovereignty while preventing the recurrence of such incidents that undermine the dignity of Indian nationals in transit.

Such developments further strain India-China relations at a time when attempts are underway to restore normalcy, with increased calls for adherence to international norms and respect for sovereign identities in global transit zones.

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