India slams China after Arunachal woman detained at Shanghai airport: ‘Such conduct brings…’

Prema Wangjom is an Indian citizen born in Thongdok, Arunachal Pradesh.

India has lodged a strong protest against China after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh was detained at Shanghai Pudong Airport, India Today reported, citing sources. Government officials called China’s action an “unnecessary obstruction” at a time when both countries are trying to repair relations soured following military clashes along the border in mid-2020. Government sources told the publication that a border order has been issued in both Beijing and New Delhi, while the Indian consulate in Shanghai has provided full assistance to the stranded passenger.

According to the report, government officials told their Chinese counterparts that the passenger was detained for “ridiculous reasons.” They added that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and its residents have the right to hold Indian passports and travel. New Delhi also flagged that the actions of Chinese officials violated international civil aviation norms. Officials also stated that such behavior “poses unnecessary obstacles” to a broader effort to stabilize bilateral relations.

The official response followed a detailed complaint by Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian national who was born in Arunachal Pradesh and now lives in the UK. In his complaint, he alleged that he was detained, harassed and mocked for nearly 18 hours while passing through Shanghai on his way from England to Japan on 21 November. He said Chinese immigration officials declared his passport invalid merely because his place of birth was listed as Arunachal Pradesh, and allegedly told him the state was “part of China”. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prema called the incident a “direct insult to the sovereignty of India and the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh”.