Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has strongly criticised the way Chinese immigration authorities treated Arunachal-born UK resident Prema Wangjom Thongdok at Shanghai Pudong Airport, calling it ‘unacceptable’.
Thongdok was reportedly detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport after officials allegedly refused to recognise her Indian passport.
She claimed that immigration officers declared her passport “invalid” solely because it mentioned Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth, and that officials told her, “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.”
In a post on X, CM Khandu said he was “deeply shocked” by the humiliation and racial mockery reportedly faced by Thongdok despite holding a valid Indian passport.
He said, “I am deeply shocked by the unacceptable treatment of Ms. Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a proud Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, by Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Subjecting her despite a valid Indian passport to humiliation and racial mockery is appalling.”
The chief minister said that Arunachal Pradesh is, and will always be an integral part of India. Any insinuation otherwise is baseless and offensive.
He said the incident amounts to a violation of international norms and an insult to the dignity of Indian citizens.
“Such conduct violates international norms and is an affront to the dignity of our citizens. I am confident that the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India will take up this matter urgently that such incidents are not repeated,” he added.
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 21st November 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.
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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.
