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India Denounces China’s Detention of Arunachal Citizen, Reaffirms Territory Claim
India calls Arunachal Pradesh an “integral part” of the country after a UK-based citizen from the state was detained for 18 hours at Shanghai Airport. New Delhi says China violated international travel norms.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-11-26
India Denounces China’s Detention of Arunachal Citizen, Reaffirms Territory Claim

India has strongly reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable part” of the country, following the detention of Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen from the northeastern state, at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Thongdok said she was held for 18 hours during a layover from London to Japan and that Chinese immigration officials “mocked” her, claiming Arunachal Pradesh belongs to China and declaring her passport invalid.

In response, India issued a demarche to Beijing. Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had “taken up the matter strongly” and criticized China for actions that violate international air travel conventions, as well as China’s own visa-free transit regulations.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning defended the detention, claiming there was no harassment and reiterating Beijing’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls Zangnan. She said the authorities were merely carrying out checks “in accordance with the law.”

The incident comes amid efforts to normalize India-China relations after years of hostility. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China in August, meeting President Xi Jinping, with both leaders emphasizing partnership over rivalry.

India and China share a 3,800-kilometre disputed border, where tensions have flared periodically, most notably during a 2020 clash in the Himalayas that left 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.
Tagged:

Diplomacy

IndiaChina

ArunachalPradesh

InternationalTravel
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