New Delhi, Nov 25: India has issued a strong diplomatic response to China after an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was detained and denied normal transit procedures at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport, a development that has sparked a diplomatic flashpoint between the two countries. New Delhi issued a sharp rebuttal. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal firmly rejected Beijing’s territorial claim and condemned the detention as a violation of international aviation norms.
“We have seen statements made by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was holding a valid passport and was transiting through Shanghai International Airport on her onward travel to Japan.
Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality.
The issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel. The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa-free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries.”
Officials in New Delhi highlighted that China’s actions appeared to breach multiple aviation norms, including protocols under the Chicago and Montreal Conventions, which govern civil international air travel. Moreover, China’s own immigration rules permit 24-hour visa-free transit, a right allegedly denied in this case. Media reported quoting government sources that a strong demarche was issued in both Beijing and New Delhi, and the Indian Consulate in Shanghai intervened to assist the passenger.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning earlier claimed the traveller was “not subjected to any compulsory measures,” asserting that officials acted “according to laws and regulations”.
She also stated that food and rest were provided. But her remarks drew sharp backlash after she added: “Zangnan is China’s territory. China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India.”
The incident took place on November 21, when Prema Wang Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen from Rupa in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district, was travelling from London to Japan with a scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai. Despite holding a valid Indian passport and all required travel documents, she was detained for over 18 hours, repeatedly questioned, and allegedly told that her passport was “invalid” because Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory.
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