India Lodges Strong Objection After Chinese Officials Harass Arunachal Woman At Shanghai Airport Over Indian Citizenship

The Indian Government has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Chinese authorities following an incident at Shanghai Pudong Airport where an Indian national, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, reportedly faced harassment and questioning over her Indian citizenship. New Delhi issued a formal demarche in both Beijing and Delhi, asserting that the actions of Chinese immigration officials and China Eastern Airlines staff contravene established international civil aviation protocols, specifically the Chicago and Montreal Conventions. This diplomatic intervention underscores India's firm stance on the sovereignty of Arunachal Pradesh and the rights of its citizens.

Ms. Thongdok, an Indian citizen residing in the United Kingdom, was transiting through Shanghai en route to Japan when Chinese immigration officials singled her out. She alleges that her Indian passport was declared invalid, and officials mocked her citizenship, stating, "Arunachal is not part of India" and suggesting she apply for a Chinese passport. This 18-hour ordeal included what Ms. Thongdok described as "humiliating, questionable behaviour" from both immigration personnel and China Eastern Airlines staff, who reportedly joined in the mocking.

The Indian Consulate in Shanghai provided immediate assistance to Ms. Thongdok, highlighting the severity of the situation. India's protest emphasizes that such actions by Chinese authorities violate fundamental principles of international civil aviation, which govern the treatment of passengers and the validity of travel documents. The incident raises concerns about adherence to global aviation standards and the potential impact on commercial air travel and passenger services between the two nations.

This event occurs amidst a period of fluctuating ties between India and China, with India consistently rejecting China's territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh remains an integral and inalienable part of India, dismissing any attempts by China to rename places within the state. The incident at Shanghai Pudong Airport thus transcends a mere passenger dispute, becoming a flashpoint reflecting deeper geopolitical tensions within the commercial aviation sphere.