Introduction
An Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh claims that after Chinese immigration officials questioned the legitimacy of her Indian passport, she was held at Shanghai Pudong Airport for about eighteen hours. In addition to the mounting tension over Arunachal's political status, the incident has prompted severe worries about the safety of travel for locals.
Main Details
Prema Wangjom Thongdok, the woman, was due to have a three-hour layover at Shanghai Pudong Airport on November 21 while going from London to Tokyo. But when she arrived, immigration officers allegedly stopped her at the desk, examined her passport, and declared it to be "invalid" because it stated Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. According to reports, she was informed that since "Arunachal is part of China," her Indian passport that mentioned it would not be acknowledged.
Thongdok claims that even though she had a valid Japanese visa, her passport was confiscated and she was refused boarding. She claimed that officials and airline employees made fun of her origins and consistently rejected her attempts to clarify her citizenship. She claims that throughout the course of the following few hours, airport officials mistreated her, told her to purchase a new ticket, and placed her in a restricted area. There have apparently been denials of basic amenities including food access, rest areas, and clear communication.
She was able to get in touch with the Indian Consulate in Shanghai after hours of distress. She was detained for about eighteen hours before being permitted to resume her travel after diplomatic correspondence. She was so upset by the experience that she openly described the harassment in a detailed statement posted online.
Background
China and India have long had a delicate political dispute over Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing refers to the Indian state as "Zangnan" and believes it is a part of South Tibet; India vehemently denies these allegations. Tensions frequently arise during official map publishes, border police encounters, and diplomatic meetings. Due to China's territorial claims, Arunachal Pradesh residents have previously had difficulties when travelling abroad.
According to India, passports given to citizens of Arunachal Pradesh are entirely valid elsewhere in the world, and the state is an essential part of the nation. The most recent event demonstrates how common travellers can be profoundly impacted by geopolitical tensions.
Latest Updates
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking Indian officials after her release, Thongdok described her ordeal as a breach of India's sovereignty. She urged the administration to make sure that Arunachal Pradesh residents are shielded from similar abuse overseas and asked for a formal answer. According to diplomatic sources, India might bring up the matter through formal channels and ask Chinese authorities to explain the actions of immigration officers at Shanghai Airport.
Social media users, Northeastern communities, and policy experts have all expressed concern over her narrative, claiming that the incident is part of a rising trend of Chinese officials acting aggressively towards people who were born in Arunachal Pradesh.
Conclusion
An Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was detained for eighteen hours at Shanghai Airport, which highlights the growing complexity of India-China relations. The episode serves as a reminder of how geopolitical tensions can directly affect residents when they travel abroad, as her experience continues to garner public attention. There may now be increased pressure on the Indian government to deal with these instances more forcefully on the international front.
Photo Credits: WiNG / Wikimedia Commons – Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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