India has lodged a strong protest with China over the detention of an Indian national, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, during a transit at Shanghai airport. The Ministry of External Affairs has countered Chinese claims regarding Arunachal Pradesh, stating it is an ‘integral part of India’ and that Beijing’s denial of this reality is futile. Thongdok, originally from Arunachal Pradesh and residing in the UK, alleged that Chinese immigration officers held her for approximately 18 hours, deeming her passport ‘invalid’ because it indicated her birthplace. The MEA pointed out that these actions violate international transit conventions and China’s own visa-free transit rules, adding that Beijing has not yet provided an adequate explanation for the incident. The incident underscores ongoing tensions over the disputed border region.
