Arunachali woman Pem Wang Thongdok says Shanghai airport officials detained her for 18 hours. [Photo: X]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
