India seeks assurance from China after citizen's harassment report
What's the story
India has sought assurances from China that its citizens will not face selective harassment, following an incident involving an Arunachal Pradesh resident at Shanghai airport. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi lodged a strong protest over the incident and reiterated India's position that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We expect Chinese authorities to provide assurances that Indian citizens transiting through Chinese airports will not be selectively targeted."
Detention case
Incident details and India's response
The incident in question involved Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh currently living in the UK. Thongdok was detained for nearly 18 hours at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport while traveling from London to Japan via Shanghai on November 21. She alleged that Chinese immigration officials questioned her Indian passport, claiming it was invalid due to her birthplace being Arunachal Pradesh.
Consular assistance
India's diplomatic intervention and China's response
Indian consular officials in Shanghai and Beijing were alerted to Thongdok's situation, intervened, and facilitated her release. Despite this, New Delhi has termed the detention "arbitrary" and "in violation of several conventions governing international air travel." The Chinese foreign ministry had earlier defended its actions by saying that border checks are a common practice worldwide.
Travel advisory
MEA advises caution, reiterates Arunachal's status
In light of the incident, the MEA has advised Indian nationals to exercise caution while traveling to or transiting through China. Jaiswal reiterated India's long-standing position on Arunachal Pradesh, saying "Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India." This incident comes amid the resumption of air links between India and China after a five-year gap.