An Indian girl poses for a photo with an Indian flag at the Indo-China border in Bamla.
India has formally protested China’s alleged arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen at Shanghai Pudong Airport. The incident occurred during a layover on November 21 and has sparked new tensions between the two Asian neighbours.
Indian Traveler Held Over Passport Dispute
Pem Wang Thongdok, a woman from India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, said she was stopped by Chinese border authorities during her transit to Japan.
She stated that officials refused to recognize her Indian passport because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. China claims the region as Zangnan, or Southern Tibet, and does not acknowledge it as part of India.
Thongdok posted on X that she was held at the airport for 18 hours, describing the experience as deeply distressing and unnecessary.
China Labels Region as Its Territory
The dispute over Arunachal Pradesh has long been a flashpoint in India-China relations. India considers the region an integral part of its sovereign territory. Beijing, however, consistently asserts that it belongs to China.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that border authorities acted “in accordance with laws and regulations.” She claimed the traveler’s rights were “fully protected” and denied that she was detained or harassed.
Mao repeated China’s position that Zangnan is part of Chinese territory and insisted Beijing does not recognize the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which it says was “illegally established” by India.
India Rejects China’s Claims, Calls Incident Unacceptable
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded strongly late Tuesday. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable” part of India.
He stated that “no amount of denial” from China can alter this reality.
Jaiswal further criticized China for failing to explain why the Indian citizen was held, calling the act a clear violation of international air travel norms. He said the treatment also violated China’s own transit rules, which allow visa-free stays of up to 24 hours for all nationalities.
Diplomatic Strain Deepens Amid Border Tensions
The episode comes as India and China attempt to stabilize relations after the deadly June 2020 border clash in Ladakh. The two nuclear-armed neighbors remain locked in a tense military standoff along the Himalayas.
Beyond the border dispute, the relationship is already under pressure due to curbs on technology access, trade barriers, and wider regional rivalries.
The incident at Shanghai airport is now the latest reminder of how the unresolved conflict over Arunachal Pradesh continues to fuel friction.
Continuing Dispute Remains a Major Roadblock
Both sides have held multiple rounds of talks to ease tensions, yet the fundamental disagreement over Arunachal Pradesh persists.
Analysts say the airport detention episode highlights how disputes over identity documents, maps, and border recognition can quickly escalate into diplomatic conflict.
For now, India has demanded accountability and clarity from Beijing, while China maintains its stance on the region’s status.
As the two countries push for stability, the Arunachal Pradesh dispute remains a central barrier to improving ties and building trust between the neighbors.
