Pem Wang Thongdok, an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh living in the United Kingdom, has alleged that Chinese authorities detained her for over 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. She said officials refused to accept her Indian passport, calling it “invalid” because her birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh.
𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 & 𝐀𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧!
🚨 “Arunachal, not valid passport.”
🚨 On being asked why, Prema was told, “Arunachal is a part of China. Your passport is invalid.”
🚨 Immigration staff members and airlines personnel mocked her, laughed… pic.twitter.com/jvmirrU7RR
— Congress (@INCIndia) November 24, 2025
Who is Pem Wang Thongdok?
Pem Wang Thongdok is originally from Arunachal Pradesh, a state India considers an integral part of the country, but China claims as its own. She currently lives in the UK and was travelling from London to Japan when her journey was interrupted. Her posts on X brought widespread attention to the incident and triggered diplomatic intervention.
@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
Pem Wang Thongdok: What Led to the 18 Hour Long Detention?
Pem Wang Thongdok said she was travelling from London to Japan on November 21, 2025. She had already cleared immigration at Shanghai Airport and was waiting for her connecting flight when an official approached her, checked her documents, and escorted her back to the immigration desk.
There, she was allegedly told that her documents were not valid. She claimed the authorities told her, “Arunachal is part of China. Your passport is invalid.” She stated that the officials demanded she buy a new ticket from China Eastern Airlines and stopped her from boarding the flight she had already booked.
Pem Wang Thongdok Tags Indian Leaders for Urgent Help
Feeling helpless, Thongdok turned to social media. She tagged Arunachal CM Pema Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and major news outlets, urging them to intervene. Her posts went viral, and many expressed concern about her treatment.
Indian Consulate Steps In
After her posts gained attention, the Indian Consulate contacted the Chinese authorities. Their intervention allowed her to leave Shanghai later that night. Thongdok thanked the officials for stepping in quickly and helping her resume her journey.
Travel Tensions Rise Amid India-China Border Disputes
This incident highlights a growing issue—Indians from Arunachal Pradesh often face scrutiny when travelling through China because of the ongoing border dispute. While both countries remain firm on their territorial claims, travellers increasingly become unwilling victims of geopolitical tensions. The episode may prompt calls for updated travel advisories and stronger diplomatic protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.
