China Denies Harassment Claim After Woman Says She Was Told ‘Arunachal Pradesh Is Chinese Territory’ At Shanghai Airport | India News
An issue that has received widespread attention in India has now sparked a response from China. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh, claimed that she was harassed by Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport on Monday. According to him, the authorities questioned his Indian citizenship and even claimed that “Arunachal is not a part of India”. In response, China denied the allegations on Tuesday, stating that “the legal rights and interests of the person concerned are fully protected and no mandatory measures have been taken against him.”
After the incident came to light, India took a harsh stance against the Chinese side regarding the incident, both at the New Delhi Embassy and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.
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Earlier, Indian citizen Wangjom Thongdok had described a “long ordeal” and stated that he faced harassment from Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport, who “taunted and asked questions” about his Indian citizenship, and stated that his 18-hour ordeal ended with the help of officials from India’s missions in Shanghai and Beijing.
China’s Response to Harassment Allegation
Answering questions about the incident at the media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning once again reiterated Beijing’s position, which has always been categorically rejected by India. He also said there had been no alleged “detention” or “harassment” by Chinese authorities.
According to news agency ANI, Mao Ning said, “Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’, which was illegally established by India. In the individual case you mentioned, as far as we have learned, throughout the entire period, China’s border control authorities carried out the control procedures in accordance with the law and regulations, the law enforcement agencies were not impartial and abusive, the legal rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected, no mandatory measures were taken against him, no so-called ‘detention’ or “There was no ‘harassment’.”
“The airline provided him with rest facilities and meals. For anything more specific, I would refer you to the authorities,” he added.
India’s Strong Response
Citing sources, ANI reported that India has already taken strong action regarding the incident and the Consulate in Shanghai is also handling the matter locally and providing assistance to the stranded passenger.
It was emphasized that the passenger was detained for ridiculous reasons. Arunachal Pradesh is unquestionably an Indian territory and its residents have the full right to hold and travel with Indian passports.
It was also emphasized that the actions of the Chinese authorities were contrary to the Chicago and Montreal Conventions on civil aviation.
“On the day the incident occurred, a strong move was made by the Chinese side in Beijing and Delhi. Our Consulate in Shanghai also took up the matter locally and provided full assistance to the stranded passenger,” sources told ANI.
Arunachal Woman’s Allegations Against Airlines
Prema Thongdok also alleged that China Eastern Airlines staff engaged in “insulting, questionable behavior”. He claimed that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport declared his Indian passport invalid and delayed his travel to Japan.
“When I questioned them and asked what the problem was, they said ‘Arunachal is not part of India’ and started mocking, laughing and saying things like ‘You should apply for a Chinese passport, you are Chinese, not Indian’,” Thongdok told ANI.
Thongdok said he was an Indian citizen who had been resident in the UK for about 14 years and had traveled from London to Japan, transiting via Shanghai.
“One of the Chinese immigration officials came up to me and picked me out of the queue. I asked what happened, and he said: ‘Arunachal is not India, it is China-China, your visa is not accepted. Your passport is invalid’… When I questioned them and asked what the problem was, they said ‘Arunachal is not part of India’ and started mocking, laughing and saying things like ‘You should apply for a Chinese passport, you are Chinese, you are not Indian… Without encountering any problems in the past. “I transited from Shanghai,” he added.
“I called the Indian embassies in Shanghai and Beijing. Within an hour, Indian officials arrived at the airport, brought me some food, discussed the problems with them and helped me get out of the country. It was a very long ordeal, 18 hours, but I was glad to get out of there. I had my Indian passport, which is a valid document…” he added.
India-China Ties
The incident comes amid what is seen as an improvement in relations between India and China following interactions between senior leaders of the two countries.
It is noteworthy that India has firmly and more than once rejected China’s claims to Arunachal Pradesh, saying that the Northeastern state is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.
(with ANI entries)
