An Indian-origin UK resident has accused Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong International Airport of detaining, intimidating, and refusing to acknowledge her Indian passport during a transit halt, allegedly because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her place of birth.

Pema Wangjom Thongdok, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and currently lives in the United Kingdom, was flying from London to Japan on 21 November with a scheduled three-hour layover in Shanghai. What was meant to be a routine transit, she claims, turned into an 18-hour ordeal after immigration officials allegedly declared her passport “invalid.”

Passenger Says She Was Pulled Out of Line

According to Thongdok, the situation unfolded shortly after she cleared immigration and was waiting at the security area. She said an airport official approached her suddenly, calling out “India, India” while holding her passport. The official then escorted her back to the immigration counter and told her that her passport could not be accepted because “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China,” and therefore listing it as her birthplace made the document invalid.

“An official came and started screaming ‘India, India’, calling out my name,” she said. “She took me back to the immigration desk and said, ‘Arunachal, not valid passport.’” When Pema asked why her valid Indian passport was being rejected, the officer allegedly repeated, “Arunachal is a part of China. Your passport is invalid.”

Confusion and Humiliation

Thongdok said she was left stunned by the claim, noting that she had transited through the same airport last year without any issues and had even confirmed with the Chinese Embassy in London beforehand that Indian travellers would not face problems in Shanghai.

Despite this, she alleged that several immigration staff members and China Eastern Airlines personnel mocked her and even suggested that she should “apply for a Chinese passport.”

The brief layover quickly stretched into nearly a full day. Thongdok said she was denied clear information, access to airport facilities, and proper food. Her passport was reportedly withheld, preventing her from rebooking flights, purchasing meals, or moving between terminals. She further alleged that officials pressured her to buy a new ticket specifically on China Eastern Airlines, implying that only then would her passport be returned.

Thongdok manages to reach Indian Consulate

Stranded, confused, and unable to proceed with her journey, Thongdok managed to reach the Indian Consulate in Shanghai through a friend in the UK. Indian officials later intervened and escorted her to a late-night departure from the city.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian officials, Thongdok described the incident as a grave insult to India’s sovereignty and to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. She has urged the Indian government to take up the matter with Beijing, seek accountability from the immigration and airline staff involved, and push for compensation for the financial losses she suffered, including missed flights and hotel bookings. She has also requested that assurances be put in place to prevent similar incidents for travellers from Arunachal Pradesh in the future.

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