India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with China after an Indian woman was reportedly detained without justification at Shanghai Airport. According to Indian media, the woman — Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based traveller holding an Indian passport — was stopped during a layover on November 21 and told her passport was “invalid” due to her birth in Arunachal Pradesh, a region China claims as its own territory.
Thongdok said she was barred from boarding her connecting flight to Japan and kept in custody for nearly 18 hours. India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticised the detention as a violation of international air travel conventions and demanded an explanation from Chinese officials.
Beijing, however, defended its actions, saying the airport checks were conducted according to “laws and regulations.”
The incident comes at a sensitive time, as India and China attempt to carefully rebuild ties following years of tension — including deadly clashes along their disputed 3,800km Himalayan border. Despite recent high-level diplomatic engagements, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China in August, long-standing disagreements such as the status of Arunachal Pradesh continue to strain relations.
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