New Delhi: India has reiterated its firm position on Arunachal Pradesh following renewed focus on the issue after an Indian citizen from the state was detained at Shanghai airport. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that Arunachal Pradesh remains an inseparable part of the country and emphasised that no external interference will be accepted.
During a briefing, the ministry expressed concern over the treatment of Indian nationals transiting through Chinese airports. Officials said India expects China to uphold international aviation norms and ensure that travellers are not subjected to arbitrary detention or discriminatory questioning. The ministry also advised Indian citizens to exercise caution while travelling to or through China in light of the recent incident.
The advisory was issued after Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian passport holder living in the United Kingdom, was stopped by immigration authorities in Shanghai on November 21. Her documents were reportedly questioned on the basis of her place of birth being Arunachal Pradesh, which Chinese officials claimed as part of their territory. She was travelling from London to Japan and had a brief layover when the incident occurred. She later recounted the experience online after leaving China.
India responded immediately, lodging a formal protest with Chinese officials in both Beijing and New Delhi on the same day. Officials noted that actions of this nature create unnecessary barriers at a time when both countries have been working to stabilise relations. The incident was described as an avoidable hindrance to the broader efforts underway to improve bilateral engagement.
Over the past year, India and China have made gradual progress in easing tensions, particularly concerning the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh. The latest developments, however, have drawn renewed attention to longstanding territorial sensitivities and the need for predictable treatment of travellers amid evolving diplomatic dynamics.
