Indian woman held back at Shanghai Airport for 18 hours: Authorities say 'Arunachal is part of China', passport declared 'invalid'

An Indian citizen living in the United Kingdom has accused Chinese authorities of detaining her for more than 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport after refusing to recognise her Indian passport, solely because she was born in Arunachal Pradesh.

The woman, Pem Wang Thongdok, shared her ordeal through a series of posts on X, describing what she called discriminatory treatment linked to China’s long-standing territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh.

The incident occurred on November 21, 2025, when she was travelling from London to Japan via Shanghai.

“I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025 on claims by China immigration & China Eastern Airline." (sic), she wrote.

@pemakhandu @kirenrijuju @PMOIndia I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025 on claims by China immigration & @chinaeasternair They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory. @cnnbrk

— Pem Wang Thongdok (@wang_pem) November 23, 2025

According to Thongdok, Chinese immigration officials told her that her passport was not valid because her birthplace was Arunachal Pradesh.

“They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory," she added.

In another post, she underlined that her nationality was being questioned purely because of where she was born.

“Indian citizen held at Shanghai airport on claims that my Indian passport is invalid because I was born in Arunachal Pradesh India," (sic), she wrote.

She tagged Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and several media organisations while seeking intervention. She also directly addressed the Prime Minister’s Office in a strongly worded appeal.

“Honorable Sirs, Is Arunachal Pradesh part of China?" (sic).

What happened at the airport

Speaking to India Today later, Thongdok provided further details of the events inside the airport terminal. She said her passport had already cleared immigration formalities when an official singled her out.

“After immigration, I submitted my passport and was waiting at security. Just then, an official came and started screaming, ‘India, India,’ with my name and singled me out," she was quoted as saying.

She explained that she was taken back to the immigration desk, where the officer dismissed the legitimacy of her passport.

“When I asked, she took me to the immigration desk and said, ‘Arunachal, not a valid passport’," she said.

The situation escalated further when airport officials reportedly declared that her place of birth fell under Chinese territory.

“Arunachal is a part of China. Your passport is invalid," the woman quoted the airport authorities as saying.

According to her account, she was prevented from boarding her onward flight to Japan and forced to remain in the transit area for several hours. She also claimed officials pressured her to purchase a fresh ticket only on China Eastern Airlines and implied that her passport would be returned only after doing so.

Intervention by Indian authorities

Concerned about her situation, one of her friends in the UK contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai on her behalf. Indian officials later intervened and escorted her to a late-night departure flight from the city, helping her continue her journey.

A familiar pattern in China’s stand on Arunachal Pradesh

The episode highlights China’s repeated attempts to question India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, which is an “integral and inalienable" part of India. Beijing continues to refer to the state as “South Tibet” and asserts ownership over the region, despite it being under full Indian administrative control.

This is not the first time such claims have surfaced. The issue has previously appeared through the practice of issuing stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh, objections to Indian leaders visiting the region and recurring diplomatic protests aimed at questioning India’s territorial integrity.

Growing concerns over arbitrary treatment

Thongdok’s allegations have triggered outrage online and renewed concerns over how China treats Indian citizens, especially those from Arunachal Pradesh, in line with its disputed territorial narrative.

If accurate, the incident reflects a troubling willingness on the part of Chinese immigration authorities to undermine valid Indian documents and target individuals based purely on geopolitical claims, raising serious questions about passenger rights and international norms.

As of now, there has been no official response from Chinese authorities on the specific allegations raised by Thongdok.