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India-China Tensions Flare After Detention of Traveler from Disputed Region
A diplomatic dispute has erupted between India and China after Pema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen residing in the UK, was detained for 18 hours at Shanghai's airport while transiting from London to Japan. Chinese authorities questioned the validity of her passport, which lists her birthplace as Arunachal Pradesh-a northeastern Indian state that Beijing claims as part of its territory, referring to it as "South Tibet."
India Condemns 'Arbitrary' Detention, Demands Explanation
India's foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, labeled the incident "arbitrary" and confirmed that Delhi had lodged a formal protest with Beijing. In a statement, Jaiswal emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable" part of India and accused Chinese authorities of violating international air travel conventions, including their own 24-hour visa-free transit policy.
"Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions," Jaiswal said, adding that the detention breached both global norms and China's domestic regulations. Thongdok, who described the ordeal as "humiliating," was released only after Indian embassy officials intervened at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
China Insists on 'Lawful' Checks, Rejects Arunachal's Status
China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, defended the detention, stating that border inspection authorities had acted "in accordance with laws and regulations." She dismissed allegations of harassment, claiming Thongdok's "lawful rights were fully protected" and that no "compulsory measures" were taken. China Eastern Airlines, she noted, provided the traveler with meals and resting facilities during her detention.
"The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh' illegally set up by India," Mao told PTI news agency, reiterating Beijing's longstanding territorial claim over the region.
Historic Border Dispute Resurfaces Amid Fragile Détente
The incident reignites tensions over the 3,440km (2,100-mile) Line of Actual Control (LAC), the de facto Himalayan border where clashes have periodically flared. In 2022, soldiers from both nations clashed in Arunachal's Tawang district, while a deadly 2020 skirmish in Ladakh's Galwan Valley severed bilateral ties for years. Recent efforts to normalize relations-including resumed flights and patrolling agreements-had signaled cautious progress.
Thongdok, who has lived in the UK for 14 years, told ANI she had transited through Shanghai "several times" without issue before. This time, she said, an immigration officer singled her out, declared her passport "invalid," and mocked her, saying, "Arunachal is not part of India... you should apply for a Chinese passport."
Broader Implications
The detention underscores the fragility of India-China relations, despite recent diplomatic overtures. In August, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Delhi stressed viewing each other as "partners," not "adversaries." Yet Thongdok's case-now a national headline in India-risks undermining that narrative, exposing how sovereignty disputes continue to overshadow bilateral engagement.
