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China Rejects Passport Over Arunachal Birthplace, Row Erupts

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Beijing
  • Nov 24, 2025
  • 555

An Indian-origin woman living in the United Kingdom, Pem Wangjom Thangdok, has alleged that she was detained and harassed for nearly 18 hours by Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport, after officials refused to recognize her Indian passport because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

Pem, who was traveling from London to Japan on November 21 with a three-hour transit in Shanghai, told India Today that Chinese immigration officers declared her passport “invalid”, arguing that Arunachal Pradesh was a part of China. She claimed that she was interrogated, mocked, and stopped from boarding her connecting flight despite having a valid visa.

According to Pem, her passport was confiscated, she was not provided clear information, and was denied access to proper food or airport facilities. Stuck in the transit zone, she was also unable to purchase food, book a new ticket, or move between terminals. She further alleged that officials pressured her to buy a new ticket on China Eastern Airlines in exchange for the return of her passport, resulting in financial losses.

Pem said several immigration officers and airline staff laughed at her and taunted her for “not applying for a Chinese passport”.

Unable to resolve the situation, she contacted friends in the UK and eventually reached out to the Indian Consulate in Shanghai, which facilitated her departure on an overnight flight out of China.

Following the incident, Pem sent a formal complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian officials, calling the treatment an insult to India’s sovereignty and to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. India has since lodged a strong protest with Beijing.

China’s Position on Arunachal Pradesh

China routinely refuses to recognize Indian documents from Arunachal Pradesh, claiming the region as part of “South Tibet”. India, however, maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is and has always been an integral part of the country.

Pem urged the Indian government to ensure that citizens from Arunachal Pradesh do not face similar harassment in the future.