India Chinese authorities reportedly flagged the passport because it listed Arunachal as her birthplace. They declared the passport “invalid,” detained her for approximately 18 hours, and denied boarding to her onward flight to Japan. The woman, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, described the experience as humiliating, saying officials told her she was “not Indian” and even suggested she apply for a Chinese passport.
External Affairs India Ministry Intervenes, Reaffirms Sovereignty Claims
Responding firmly, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned China’s actions and reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is “an integral and inalienable part of India.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Chinese authorities failed to justify the detention, which violated established civil aviation conventions and China’s own rules on visa-free transit.
Officials added that China’s refusal to acknowledge Arunachal’s status and penalising an Indian traveler because of it posed a serious offense against diplomatic norms and India sovereignty.
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