The irrational claim of China over the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of the Union of India, has yet again erupted. The latest row occurred when an Indian-origin woman from the state of Arunachal Pradesh was detained at the Shanghai airport and her passport was declared as ‘invalid’. She was obstructed to travel further, because her Indian passport mentioned that she is from the state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Chinese immigration authorities quoted her passport as not legal and valid, because Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.
The detained woman is Pem Wang Thongdok. She was travelling from London to Japan via Shanghai on November 21. Apparently, she had a three-hour layover at the Shanghai airport, which turned into an eighteen-hour nightmare for the traveller. The officials at the immigration counter denied her Indian passport and exclaimed that “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China”.
Passport declared invalid, Mocked by staff and no proper food
Pem Wang Thongdok, took to her X social media platform and said that “I was held at Shanghai Airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov 2025, on claims by China immigration and China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited. They called my Indian passport invalid, as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory”.
@pemakhandu @kirenrijuju @PMOIndia I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025 on claims by China immigration & @chinaeasternair They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory. @cnnbrk
— Pema Thongdok (@wang_pem) November 23, 2025
While speaking to a private media platform, Pem Wang Thondok further explained that while she was waiting at the airport security, the officials suddenly began to scream “India, India”. They also mentioned her name. Upon enquiry, they asserted that “Arunachal, not a valid passport”. “Apply for a Chinese passport,” said the Shanghai airport officials, Pem Wang Thondok added.
She further alleged that during the 18-hour long detainment the immigration officers and the China Eastern Airlines Staff repeatedly mocked her and insisted to apply for a Chinese passport. She was also denied ‘proper’ food. Adequate information, guidance or update regarding the future flight and other facilities were also not given to her. Despite having a valid visa she was not allowed to board the next flight to Japan as her passport was detained.
Indian consulate in Shanghai reaches to rescue
The detained woman from Arunachal Pradesh was released from the Shanghai airport as the Indian consulate in Shanghai intervened. Pem Wang Thondok said that she managed to reach out to the Indian consulate in Shanghai with the help of one of her friends from the United Kingdom. Indian officials ensured her early release and aided to board the next flight for Japan.
Pem Wang Thondok did her education at the University of Delhi and later on moved to the United Kingdom for higher education. While speaking to the media, mother of Pem Wang Thondok, Sang Chhom Thongdok reiterated that her daughter is indeed an Indian citizen. She travels frequently for her work, but had never faced such a cumbersome situation at any airport across the globe.
Insult to India’s sovereignty
Pem Wang Thondok has written the matter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has reiterated the entire row that erupted at the Shanghai airport and the kind of treatment she encountered as an insult to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. She has urged the Government of India to raise this issue with Beijing and she has also prompted that disciplinary action against the Shanghai airport authorities has to be taken, which includes the immigration/security officials and the airlines staff.
New Delhi sends stern warning to Beijing; Row is a prickle to stabilize bilateral relations
Meanwhile, New Delhi has strongly condemned the row and has sent a stern diplomatic protest to Beijing. A demarche(a political step or initiative) was issued to China simultaneously in New Delhi and in Beijing. The diplomatic message was sent to the respective high commissions on the same day when the Indian consulate in Shanghai intervened and released the woman from Arunachal Pradesh.
The demarche states that “Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports”. With their irrational actions, Chinese authorities have in fact violated international civil aviation norms, the demarche ent from India further added.
New Delhi also has asserted that such undue actions can derail the momentum of the diplomatic efforts taken over the year to revamp and stabilize India-China bilateral relations. “Introduces unnecessary hurdles” in the broader effort to stabilize ties, the statement from Government of India exclaimed.
India and China bilateral and strategic ties had hit an all-time low post the Galwan clash of 2020. The diplomatic channels were freezed, trade was reduced, visa permissions were curtailed and even direct flight connectivity between both the nations was scrapped. However, since a year there is gradual revamp of the ties, as there has been deescalation, disengagement and stability over the border regions. With the meeting of Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Russia on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in 2024, the resetting of India-China relations gained further momentum.
Lately, direct flights have been resumed, tourist visa distribution has been restarted and Indians are allowed for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Prime Minister Modi also visited China for the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) Summit at Tianjin. In the path of this momentous effort to stabilize bilateral relations, the latest row in the Shanghai airport especially over Arunachal Pradesh will indeed act as a prickle and derail the efforts. In this direction, India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest and has urged China to not stir the issue of Arunachal Pradesh, which is an integral part of India.
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