China denied any wrongdoing against Arunachal woman Prema Wangjom Thongdok at Shanghai airport on Tuesday. China's foreign ministry reiterated its claims over Arunachal Pradesh and called it Chinese territory.
Refuting allegations levelled by Prema Thongdok, China maintained that its immigration officials acted as per law and fully protected the rights of Prema Thongdok. China denied allegations of detaining Prema for over 18 hours at Shanghai airport following a dispute over her Indian passport.
#WATCH | Prema Wangjom Thongdok from Arunachal Pradesh claims that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport declared her Indian passport invalid and delayed her travel to Japan.
— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2025
She says, "... When I tried to question them and ask them what the issue was, they… pic.twitter.com/onL9v1Oe0j
On November 21, Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai airport refused to accept the Indian passport of UK-based Indian citizen Prema Thongdok and called it "invalid". Prema was travelling to Japan from the UK and had a three-hour layover at Shanghai airport. However, the short layover soon turned into an 18-hour ordeal after Chinese authorities refused to recognise her passport, as it mentioned Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.
Responding to Prema's allegations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that the woman was not subjected to any compulsory measures, detainment or harassment. "The airline provided a place to rest, drink and food for the person concerned," Mao said.
"We learnt that China's border inspection authorities have gone through the whole process according to the laws and regulations and fully protected the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned," she added. She reiterated China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls Zangnan or South Tibet.
"Zangnan is China's territory. China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India, Mao said.
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The Indian government lodged a strong demarche (a formal diplomatic protest) to China, both in Beijing and in Delhi, on the same day the incident took place. "India firmly conveyed to the Chinese side that Arunachal Pradesh is 'indisputably' an Indian territory and its residents are perfectly entitled to hold and travel with Indian passports," India stressed.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed shock over the incident on Tuesday, and said he was "deeply shocked" by the incident and called it a "violation of international norms". "Subjecting her despite a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling. Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be, an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive," he said.
