Indian Woman Detained at Shanghai Airport over Birthplace Dispute: 'I was Treated like a Foreigner in my Own Land'

Image Source: Internet

An Indian woman was subjected to an 18-hour ordeal at Shanghai Pudong airport after Chinese authorities deemed her Indian passport invalid due to her birthplace being Arunachal Pradesh, a disputed territory claimed by China. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based financial advisor, was traveling from London to Japan with a layover in Shanghai on November 21, 2025. She was singled out during security checks and held for over 18 hours. Thongdok claimed that immigration officials mocked her and told her that Arunachal Pradesh was not part of India. They allegedly denied her access to food and refused to let her board her onward flight despite having a valid Japanese visa. The airline staff also behaved similarly, leaving her stranded. In a bizarre twist, Thongdok claimed that she was prevented from accessing information online because 'there is no Google in China.' She eventually managed to contact friends in the UK and sought help from the Indian consulate in Shanghai. Indian officials intervened and helped her get out of the country. The Indian government has lodged a strong protest with Beijing, calling the grounds for detention 'ludicrous' and reaffirming that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India. The Indian consulate in Shanghai has also expressed solidarity with Thongdok, stating that Arunachal Pradesh is 'indisputably Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports.' Thongdok has written to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking compensation for 'harassment, distress, and physical and mental suffering' as well as financial losses. The incident has sparked concerns over China's treatment of Indian citizens and its implications for India-China relations.