China Detains Indian Citizen Over Arunachal Pradesh; India Protests

A diplomatic row has erupted after Chinese immigration officials detained an Indian citizen, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, in Shanghai, citing her Indian passport as ‘invalid’ because it listed her birthplace as Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs vehemently rejected China’s territorial claims, reaffirming that Arunachal Pradesh is sovereign Indian territory. The MEA stated that the Chinese authorities have not justified their actions, which contravene international norms for air travel and their own transit policies. Thongdok, who resides in the UK, reported being held for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport while traveling from London to Japan. India has formally protested the incident and demanded clarification from Beijing.