China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, denied that Thongdok faced any detention, forced measures, or harassment.
India has strongly rejected China’s recent claim that its border guards behaved lawfully after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh was allegedly denied travel at Shanghai airport. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called China’s version “a denial” that does nothing to change the “indisputable reality” that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India.
The MEA, via a statement from spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, hit back hard. India emphasized that “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality.”
India also said that Chinese authorities have yet to explain why they denied Thongdok’s valid Indian passport or her right to transit. The MEA argued that China’s behavior “violates several conventions governing international air travel.” It added that Chinese rules allow visa-free transit for up to 24 hours — a right that Thongdok held.
The controversy began when Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen, said she was held up in Shanghai. She was traveling from London to Japan and had a layover at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Thongdok claims that Chinese immigration officials told her passport was “invalid” solely because her place of birth was listed as Arunachal Pradesh.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, denied that Thongdok faced any detention, forced measures, or harassment.
“We learnt that China's border inspection authorities have gone through the whole process according to the laws and regulations and fully protected the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned,” Mao said.
Arunachal Pradesh’s Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, expressed outrage. He called the treatment of Thongdok “humiliating” and “racial mockery.”
“Subjecting her … to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling,” he said, noting that Arunachal Pradesh will always remain part of India. He called any claim otherwise “baseless and offensive.”
This incident strikes at a long-running geopolitical fault line. China has, in the past, disputed India’s claim on Arunachal Pradesh. Now, any diplomatic or travel-related dispute involving the region reignites those tensions.
It also raises serious questions about the treatment of Indian citizens abroad, especially those from border states. India’s sharp response shows how sensitive the issue is — not just politically, but emotionally for people from Arunachal.
