India Lodges Strong Protest After Woman from Arunachal Pradesh Detained at Shanghai Airport

India has issued a strong diplomatic protest to China following the alleged detention and harassment of a UK-based Indian woman at Shanghai Pudong Airport on November 21, 2025. The woman, identified as Prema Wangjom Thongdok, originally from Arunachal Pradesh, was reportedly held for 18 hours during a transit stop on her journey from London to Japan, according to indianexpress.com on November 25, 2025.

Chinese immigration officials allegedly deemed her Indian passport invalid because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. They reportedly insisted that the region is part of China, leading to her prolonged detention and preventing her from boarding her onward flight, The Times of India reported on November 24, 2025.

During her ordeal, Thongdok claimed she was subjected to harassment, verbal intimidation, and degrading comments by airport staff, as detailed by Hindustan Times on November 25, 2025. Officials reportedly mocked her and suggested she should apply for a Chinese passport, further escalating the distressing situation.

In response, India lodged a "strong demarche" with the Chinese side, both in Beijing and New Delhi, on the day of the incident, sources told WION on November 24, 2025. The Indian Consulate in Shanghai also intervened locally, providing assistance to the stranded passenger and taking up the matter with Chinese authorities.

New Delhi firmly asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an indisputable and integral part of India, and its residents are fully entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports, Mint reported on November 24, 2025. Indian officials stressed that the detention was based on "ludicrous grounds" and contravened international civil aviation conventions.

This incident has reignited concerns over China's persistent challenges to India's territorial sovereignty and its long-standing claims over Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing refers to as "South Tibet" or "Zangnan," according to Deccan Herald on November 24, 2025. Such actions introduce unnecessary obstructions to the ongoing efforts to normalize bilateral ties between the two nations.

The diplomatic row underscores the deep-seated territorial dispute that continues to strain relations between the two Asian giants. India has consistently rejected China's assertions, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh has always been, and will always be, an inalienable part of its territory, Drishti IAS noted on April 12, 2024.

• Historical Context of the Dispute: The territorial dispute over Arunachal Pradesh is deeply rooted in historical disagreements, particularly concerning the McMahon Line. This boundary was established during the 1914 Simla Convention between British India and Tibet, but China has consistently refused to recognize it, arguing that Tibet was not a sovereign entity capable of entering into international agreements, as explained by Wikipedia and Taipei Times on July 17, 2024. China claims approximately 90,000 square kilometers of Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as "South Tibet" or "Zangnan".

• China's Assertions and India's Rejection: China frequently attempts to assert its claim through various means, including renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh and issuing "standard maps" that depict the region as Chinese territory, according to Mint on May 13, 2025, and The Hindu on May 14, 2025. India has consistently and unequivocally rejected these actions, terming them "absurd," "baseless," and "preposterous," and reiterating that such "creative naming" does not alter the reality of Arunachal Pradesh being an integral part of India.

• Previous Incidents and "Stapled Visas": This is not an isolated incident. China has a history of challenging the Indian identity of residents from Arunachal Pradesh, notably through the practice of issuing "stapled visas" instead of stamped ones, which India views as an affront to its sovereignty, Mint reported on November 24, 2025. This practice has previously led to athletes, students, and officials from Arunachal Pradesh being denied entry into China, prompting strong protests from India.

• Diplomatic and Legal Implications: India's Ministry of External Affairs sources emphasized that China's actions at Shanghai Pudong Airport contravene the Chicago and Montreal Conventions relating to civil aviation, which establish fundamental principles for international air travel and recognition of valid travel documents, WION stated on November 24, 2025. Such incidents complicate efforts to restore normalcy in bilateral relations, which have been strained by recent military standoffs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

• Impact on Citizens and Bilateral Relations: The incident highlights the human cost of the unresolved border dispute, as citizens from Arunachal Pradesh face potential discrimination and harassment when traveling internationally, as noted by Pratidin TV on November 24, 2025. While both countries have engaged in numerous rounds of talks to de-escalate tensions, such incidents undermine trust and hinder the broader improvement of India-China ties, according to the Council on Foreign Relations on June 18, 2020, and Brookings on September 9, 2020.

• Future Developments and India's Stance: India continues to advocate for the early resolution of border issues through diplomatic and military channels, emphasizing mutual respect, sensitivity, and interest as guiding principles for bilateral relations, as reported by Anadolu Agency on July 4, 2024. New Delhi remains firm on its stance regarding Arunachal Pradesh's sovereignty and is expected to continue to challenge any actions by China that undermine India's territorial integrity.