Indian National Faces Harassment at Shanghai Airport Over Arunachal Identity
An Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh endured an 18-hour detention at Shanghai International Airport after Chinese immigration officials declared her Indian passport invalid due to her birthplace. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based financial professional, shared her traumatic experience on social media platform X, sparking diplomatic tensions between India and China.
The Ordeal: From Transit to Detention
On November 21, Thongjom was traveling from London to Japan with a scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai when her journey took an unexpected turn. Chinese immigration personnel at Shanghai Pudong Airport detained her after questioning the validity of her Indian passport. The sole reason cited was that her passport listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.
During her 18-hour detention, Thongjom claimed she faced harassment and mockery from Chinese officials who questioned her Indian citizenship. She described the experience as traumatizing and credited officials from India's missions in Shanghai and Beijing for helping end her ordeal.
Social Media Response and Diplomatic Fallout
Taking to X on Wednesday, Thongjom expressed gratitude to those supporting her case while addressing social media trolls. "I'm new here and not active on X, it's because I have a very high-profile full-time position working in the financial services and don't have idle time to answer trolls!" she stated.
She emphasized her commitment to national unity, adding, "I don't even live in India so any action that Indian govt takes will be for the benefit & pride of my fellow Indians and Arunachalis living here, not mine. We are one nation we stand for one another."
Conflicting Narratives: China Denies Allegations
China has firmly rejected Thongjom's allegations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that "the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected" and denied any compulsory measures were taken against her.
Mao defended China's border inspection authorities, claiming they carried out check procedures "in accordance with laws and regulations." She also mentioned that the airline provided Thongjom with resting facilities and meals during the incident.
India's Strong Response
The Indian government has taken a firm stance on the matter. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, calling this a self-evident fact that "no amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change."
The MEA has strongly taken up the detention issue with Chinese authorities, pointing out that their actions violate several conventions governing international air travel. Chinese authorities have reportedly failed to explain why they violated their own regulations that allow visa-free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between India and China concerning the status of Arunachal Pradesh, with both nations maintaining their respective positions while an Indian citizen caught in the diplomatic crossfire shares her disturbing experience.
