Arunachal Pradesh is integral, inalienable part of India’: MEA slams China over 18-hour detention in Shanghai

India on Tuesday issued one of its strongest recent diplomatic rebukes to China after an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was detained for over 18 hours and denied standard transit clearance at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport.

The incident escalated sharply when Beijing’s Foreign Ministry again questioned India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, prompting an immediate and forceful response from New Delhi.

In a detailed statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned both the treatment of the passenger and China’s territorial assertions, calling the episode a violation of international aviation norms. 

‘Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, ’ MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed New Delhi’s unequivocal stance, stating:

“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.”

Jaiswal said India has lodged a strong protest with Beijing and the Chinese embassy in New Delhi, highlighting that Chinese officials failed to justify the arbitrary treatment of a passenger who was legally transiting the country on a valid Indian passport.

Violation of Global Aviation Protocols

The Ministry said the Chinese action contravened multiple international conventions, including the Chicago and Montreal Conventions that govern modern civil aviation standards.

Officials also pointed out that China violated its own immigration rules, which normally allow visa-free transit of up to 24 hours for all nationalities.

Instead, airport authorities allegedly declared the passenger’s passport “invalid,” disputing her Indian nationality solely because her birthplace was listed as Arunachal Pradesh—territory China claims as “Zangnan.”

18-Hour Detention Over Birthplace

The passenger, Prema Wang Thongdok—a native of Rupa in West Kameng district who currently resides in the UK—was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 with a scheduled three-hour stop in Shanghai. What should have been a routine layover turned into an ordeal.

“I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs… They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh,” she wrote on X, adding that officials repeatedly questioned her documents and gave contradictory instructions.

China Denies Harassment, Reasserts Claim

Responding in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied any misconduct, saying the passenger “was not subjected to any compulsory measures” and was provided rest and food by the airline.

Mao’s comments, however, reignited tensions when she reiterated Beijing’s position that “Zangnan is China’s territory,” claiming China has “never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India.”

India Pushes Back Hard

Government sources told NDTV that a strong demarche was issued in Beijing and New Delhi on the same day.

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai intervened to support the stranded passenger, calling the grounds for her detention “ludicrous” and “politically motivated.”

Officials warned that such actions undermine ongoing attempts by both countries to stabilise strained bilateral ties.

A Flashpoint With Wider Implications

The episode has sparked fresh concerns that China may be using administrative tools—including immigration checks—to reinforce political claims. Analysts say targeting travellers based on birthplace sets a troubling precedent.

India has made its position unambiguous: harassment of Indian citizens under the pretext of territorial claims will be strongly countered, and Arunachal Pradesh’s status is not up for debate.