New Delhi — The Indian government on Tuesday reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is “an integral and inalienable part of India,” strongly rejecting claims by Beijing after a woman from the state was detained in Shanghai.

What Happened: Detention at Shanghai Airport

The controversy erupted when an Indian national, originally from Arunachal Pradesh, was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 and had a layover at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. According to reports, the immigration authorities of China flagged her passport as “invalid” because her place of birth was “Arunachal Pradesh.

The passenger, identified as Pema Wangjom Thongdok, alleged she was held for nearly 18 hours, denied proper facilities, and pressured to apply for a Chinese passport — despite holding a valid Indian passport and a confirmed onward flight to Japan.

In response, the Indian consulate in Shanghai intervened and extended assistance, eventually facilitating her onward travel.

China’s Position and India’s Strong Rebuttal

Officials in Beijing, however, denied harassment or arbitrary detention. A foreign ministry spokesperson claimed border checks were conducted in accordance with Chinese laws and that the traveller’s rights were safeguarded — including provision of rest, food and no coercive action. They reiterated that China does not recognise “so-called Arunachal Pradesh,” referring to the region as “Zangnan.”

New Delhi was quick to counter. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Chinese authorities failed to provide a credible explanation for treating a valid Indian passport as invalid. He described the detention as “arbitrary” and a violation of international civil-aviation norms that allow visa-free transit up to 24 hours.

The MEA strongly emphasized that “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India and no amount of denial by the Chinese side will change this indisputable reality.”

Diplomatic Fallout: What This Means for India-China Ties

The incident has triggered strong diplomatic backlash from New Delhi. A formal demarche was reportedly issued to Beijing on the same day the detention occurred.

Political parties and regional leaders have also voiced condemnation. The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, described the treatment of the traveller as “humiliating” and called China’s claim over the state offensive.

For India, the episode is more than a single detainment — it is a fundamental assertion of sovereignty, in response to a long-standing territorial dispute rooted in the broader Sino–Indian border dispute that centres on the contested status of Arunachal Pradesh.

What the Indian Government Says

In its official statement, the MEA emphasized that China’s actions violated several international aviation conventions as well as Beijing’s own transit rules.

Further, New Delhi asserted that identity and nationality of citizens from Arunachal Pradesh cannot be contested — underlining that residents hold valid Indian passports and have every right to travel internationally without discrimination.

Why This Matters — and What Comes Next

This incident — a seemingly individual case of airport detention — has escalated into a broader diplomatic confrontation. With India reaffirming its sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and rejecting China’s claims flatly, the episode may further strain bilateral ties.

As both sides hold firm on their positions, the key questions remain: Will China change its practice of denying validity of Indian passports listing Arunachal Pradesh? And will repeated diplomatic protests by New Delhi prompt any de-escalation or reforms in Chinese immigration procedures for Indian travellers?

For now, the message from India is unequivocal: Arunachal is in India — and any attempt to treat its citizens otherwise will be met with firm pushback.