Prema Wangzom, who spoke to India Today after the ordeal, said Chinese immigration officials declared her passport “invalid”, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is “part of China”. She claimed officers repeatedly mocked her and questioned her nationality, turning a routine three-hour stopover into a prolonged detention.
According to Prema, officials confiscated her passport, blocked her from boarding her connecting flight despite a valid Japanese visa, and denied her access to food and basic facilities. She said both immigration staff and China Eastern Airlines employees mocked her and told her to “apply for a Chinese passport”.
Confined to the transit area, she could not purchase food, change terminals, or book alternative travel. She alleged that officials pressured her to buy a new China Eastern ticket in exchange for returning her passport, leading to financial losses.
With assistance from a friend in the UK, Prema eventually contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai. Indian officials stepped in, secured her release, and helped her leave China on a late-night flight.
Prema has submitted a written complaint to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior officials in New Delhi, calling the episode an affront to India’s sovereignty and disrespect toward the people of Arunachal Pradesh. She urged the government to formally raise the matter with Beijing.
China routinely disputes India’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to the state as “South Tibet”. India maintains the region is an integral part of its territory. The incident has reignited concerns over the impact of this long-standing dispute on international travel and the treatment of Indian passport holders in China.
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