An Indian woman from the disputed border region of Arunachal Pradesh says she was detained for roughly 18 hours in Shanghai after Chinese immigration officers refused to recognize her Indian passport, asserting that it was invalid because China considers Arunachal Pradesh part of its own territory.
The traveler, identified as Pema Wang Thongdok, was en route from London to Japan with a planned three-hour layover in Shanghai. Instead, she says authorities blocked her onward travel, confined her to the transit area, and provided no clear information about her status, access to food, or basic airport facilities.
According to her account, immigration personnel and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her and suggested she “apply for a Chinese passport.” She says her passport was confiscated, and despite holding a valid Japanese visa, she was prevented from boarding her connecting flight. She was only released late at night after friends in the UK contacted the Indian consulate in Shanghai.
The incident has triggered outrage in India, where many view it as a challenge to Indian sovereignty and an act of discrimination against citizens from Arunachal Pradesh.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), November 24, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202511240237.aspx