What India said after Shanghai officials told Arunachali she's Chinese
What's the story
A woman of Indian origin, Prema Thongdok, was allegedly detained for 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong Airport due to her passport listing Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. The incident occurred during her transit from London to Japan on November 21. Thongdok, a financial adviser who has lived in the United Kingdom for 14 years, was singled out during security checks and was told by Chinese authorities that her passport was invalid, as they considered Arunachal Pradesh part of China.
Detention details
Thongdok's ordeal at Shanghai airport
Thongdok recounted her experience to The Indian Express, saying she was harassed and mocked by Chinese officials. "One of them even said that I should get a Chinese passport because I am Chinese....They kept my passport and didn't let me leave. I didn't have access to food. Because there is no Google [in China]." "They refused to let me travel on to Japan...They insisted that I have to either fly back to the UK or fly to India," she said.
Consulate intervention
Indian consulate intervenes, Thongdok seeks compensation
After being held for hours, Thongdok managed to contact the Indian consulate in Shanghai with the help of friends. Six officials from the consulate arrived at the airport and brought her food. They tried to convince Chinese authorities to let her travel onward but were unsuccessful. "They also insisted that I only book my flight out with China Eastern Airlines. I finally booked a flight to India with a transit stop in Thailand....and am working remotely from there," she said.
Compensation request
Thongdok seeks compensation for distress and losses
Calling the episode a "direct insult to India's sovereignty," Thongdok appealed to the Indian government to take this incident up "strongly" with the Chinese government and that compensation be secured for "harassment, distress, and physical and mental suffering." "Despite being in the UK for so many years, I have not given up my Indian passport because I love my country and don't want to be a foreigner in my own land," she said.
Diplomatic protest
India protests to China over passport issue
The Indian government has lodged a protest with China over the incident. Sources told the Indian Express that a "strong démarche" was made in both Beijing and Delhi on the same day. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stressed that Thongdok's detention was on "ludicrous grounds," asserting Arunachal Pradesh is indisputably Indian territory. They also pointed out that Chinese authorities violated international civil aviation conventions by detaining her, including the Chicago and Montreal Conventions.