In a case that has triggered a strong diplomatic response from New Delhi and renewed debate around China’s repeated claims over Arunachal Pradesh, Indian national Prema Wangjom Thongdok — who was detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport — has publicly spoken out once again, thanking supporters while sharply responding to online trolls questioning her account.
Thongdok, an Arunachal Pradesh–born Indian citizen currently settled in the United Kingdom, said her brief layover in Shanghai turned into a distressing ordeal after Chinese immigration officials allegedly declared her Indian passport “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth. The incident, which took place on 21 November, has since snowballed into a major diplomatic flashpoint between India and China.
‘I don’t have the time to answer trolls’: Thongdok responds
In a fresh post on X (formerly Twitter) shared on Wednesday, Thongdok expressed gratitude to “everyone speaking in support of this diplomatic issue,” while firmly hitting back at people casting doubts on her story.
She added that those who are attempting to discredit her experience were “not people I would engage with anyway,” and clarified that she does not live in India anymore, so any action taken by the Indian government would be for the “benefit & pride” of fellow Indians and especially Arunachalis.
Her latest remarks reflect the intense online conversation around the incident, especially after China publicly denied harassing or mistreating her — a denial that India has firmly refuted.
What happened at Shanghai Airport?
According to Thongdok, who has lived in the UK for 14 years and works as a financial adviser, she was travelling from London to Japan and had a scheduled three-hour transit in Shanghai. But the journey took a shocking turn soon after she arrived.
She said she was “singled out” at the security gate, pulled aside by airport officers, and questioned about her passport.
Officials allegedly told her that her Indian passport was “invalid” because Arunachal Pradesh is “a part of China”, and therefore she should be carrying a Chinese passport.
Thongdok claimed she was mocked, detained for nearly 18 hours, denied food at times, and prevented from accessing information online due to internet restrictions in China. She said she was also not allowed to board her onward flight to Japan despite having a valid visa.
The situation escalated to the point where she demanded access to a phone and legal assistance. She eventually contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai.
Indian intervention: Six officials sent immediately
Within an hour of receiving the alert, six officials from the Indian Consulate arrived at the airport to assist her. They provided food, attempted negotiations with Chinese authorities, and tried to ensure she could continue her journey to Japan — a request China allegedly refused.
Chinese officials reportedly insisted she could only fly out using China Eastern Airlines, and ultimately she was allowed to travel only after she booked a connecting flight to India with a transit stop in Thailand. She has since remained in Thailand, working remotely.
Thongdok later wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) detailing her ordeal, calling the treatment a “direct challenge to India’s sovereignty” and seeking compensation for “harassment, distress, and financial loss.”
China denies harassment; India issues strong demarche
The incident prompted India to issue a strong demarche to Beijing, both in Delhi and in China. The MEA expressed firm disapproval, calling the detention “unacceptable” and “based on ludicrous grounds.”
China, however, disputes the account.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Chinese border authorities followed standard procedure and claimed that the airline provided the passenger with meals and resting facilities.
China has also reiterated its long-standing — and repeatedly rejected — claims over Arunachal Pradesh.
Officials also pointed out that China’s actions violated international rules under the Chicago and Montreal Conventions on civil aviation, as well as its own policies that allow visa-free transit for up to 24 hours for citizens of all countries.
A geopolitical issue turned personal
At the heart of the diplomatic exchange is China’s political claim over Arunachal Pradesh — a claim India dismisses unequivocally. But in this case, a geopolitical dispute spilled over into the treatment of an individual Indian citizen, raising serious concerns.
Broader implications
Her experience comes at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are attempting to stabilise relations amid ongoing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Indian officials have suggested that such actions by Chinese authorities “create unnecessary obstructions” in efforts to restore normalcy.
Diplomatically, the case also reinforces India’s position that China’s attempts to undermine Arunachal Pradesh’s status will be strongly opposed — whether on maps, in renaming exercises, or in individual cases like this.
