ISLAMABAD: A routine layover in China escalated into a diplomatic row after Chinese immigration officials detained an Indian traveller for 18 hours, allegedly claiming her passport was invalid because she was born in Arunachal Pradesh — a state Beijing claims as its own territory.
The dispute originates from the 1914 Simla Convention, where British India and Tibet drew the 'McMahon Line' as the border, a demarcation Beijing has never recognized, according to the United States Office of the Historian. The two nations fought the Sino-Indian war over this boundry in 1962. Today, the Chinese Foreign Ministry officially claims the region as 'South Tibet' (Zangnan).
The news first broke publicly when the passenger herself posted about her ordeal on X, tagging senior Indian officials. The post has since garnered over 1 million views.
Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen who has lived in the UK for 14 years, was travelling from London to Osaka, Japan, on Nov. 21. Her itinerary included a brief layover at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
In a video testimony that went viral after her release, and was later verified by Indian officials, Thongdok said she had cleared the e-gates for her connecting flight before being singled out by immigration staff.
"You are Chinese, not Indian"
In her account of the incident, Thongdok alleged that officials inspected her passport, saw 'Arunachal Pradesh' listed as her place of birth, and refused to let her proceed.
“When I asked why, I was told, ‘Arunachal is a part of China. Your passport is invalid,’” she told an Indian news agency.
She described the behavior of the airport staff, including personnel from China Eastern Airlines, as humiliating. "They mocked me, laughed at me, and even suggested that I should apply for a Chinese passport if I wanted to travel," she said.
Thongdok was allegedly denied food, water, and basic airport facilities for nearly 18 hours, with her passport confiscated.
Strong Indian response
Her detention ended only after she managed to contact a friend in the UK, who alerted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai. Consular officials intervened later that night, secured her release, and arranged an alternative flight.
On social media, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu was the first senior political figure to publicly respond.
Reacting to her account, he expressed solidarity and said the state government was coordinating with New Delhi. "Subjecting her despite a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling," he wrote.
"Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be an integral part of India," he continued.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, meanwhile, issued a “strong demarche” — a formal diplomatic protest — to Chinese authorities in both Beijing and New Delhi, according to Indian media reports citing official sources.
Chinese authorities have not commented on Thongdok's claim. While India administers Arunachal Pradesh as a state, China claims the region as part of its own territory.
The official Congress account on X also weighed in, criticising the incident and terming it "Outrageous & An Insult To Every Indian!"
China’s visa policy
China has long issued “stapled visas” to residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, reflecting its territorial stance. Declaring an Indian passport invalid during transit is an unusual step.
Thongdok, who missed her Japan trip due to the incident and flew to Thailand instead, has since written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
According to Indian media, she described her detention as a “direct insult to India’s sovereignty” and called for assurances that travellers from India’s northeast will not face discrimination abroad.
“I want assurance that Indians from the Northeast will not be treated as second-class citizens or harassed when we travel,” she said.
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