'Unacceptable, appalling': Khandu after Arunachal woman detained at Shanghai airport

Itanagar, Nov 25 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Tuesday criticised the Chinese immigration authorities for what he described as "unacceptable and appalling" treatment of a woman from the state, who was detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport after officials allegedly refused to recognise her Indian passport.

Khandu said he was "deeply shocked" by the ordeal faced by Pema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen, and claimed that the conduct of Chinese officials amounted to "humiliation and racial mockery".

Subjecting her, despite a valid Indian passport, to such treatment is appalling, the chief minister said in a post on X. He also asserted that "Arunachal Pradesh is and will always be an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive".

Calling the incident a "violation of international norms and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens", Khandu said he was confident that the Ministry of External Affairs would take up the matter urgently to ensure such episodes are not repeated.

Thongdok, who hails from Rupa in West Kameng district and currently lives in the UK, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 when her three-hour layover turned into a "prolonged and distressing confrontation".

In a detailed post on X on Sunday, she wrote, "I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hours on November 21, 2025 by China immigration and China Eastern Airlines. They called my Indian passport invalid because my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory." The woman said she was confined to the transit area without clear explanations, proper food or basic facilities. Her passport was allegedly confiscated, and she was prevented from boarding her connecting flight to Japan despite holding a valid visa.

Thongdok has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials, describing the episode as a "direct insult to India's sovereignty and the people of Arunachal Pradesh".

She urged the government to take up the matter strongly with Beijing, demand accountability, seek disciplinary action against those involved, and push for compensation for the harassment faced.

The incident comes in the backdrop of China's long-standing and frequently reiterated claim over Arunachal Pradesh, which it refers to as 'South Tibet'. India has consistently rejected these claims, asserting that the state is an integral and inalienable part of the country.

Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has condemned the alleged detention and harassment of the woman, by Chinese immigration authorities, calling the incident "shocking" and "unacceptable".

APCC president Bosiram Siram expressed serious concern over what he described as “racially discriminatory” behaviour by Chinese officials, who allegedly subjected Thongdok, a valid Indian passport holder, to humiliation during her transit.

"This incident is deeply distressing and reflects a blatant violation of human dignity. No Indian citizen should ever be subjected to such insulting and discriminatory conduct," Siram said in a statement.

Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh has always been an integral part of India, the APCC said no foreign authority has any right to question or undermine the nationality or citizenship of people from the state.

"Every Arunachalee is a patriotic Indian. India is our motherland, and Arunachal Pradesh is our native homeland," the statement added.

The party urged the Centre to take swift diplomatic action, seek a formal explanation from Beijing, and ensure the safety and well-being of Thongdok. It also called for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Expressing solidarity with Thongdok and her family, the APCC said the dignity and rights of every Indian citizen must be protected at all times. PTI UPL UPL ACD