Arunachal Native Held for 18 Hours in China Amid Passport Controversy

Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh and resides in the UK, encountered a troubling situation at Shanghai airport in China. On November 21, while en route to Japan from London, she was detained for nearly 18 hours by immigration officials who questioned the legitimacy of her Indian passport, citing her Arunachal origin and claiming it was invalid since they consider Arunachal Pradesh as part of China.

Having lived in the UK for 14 years and working as a financial advisor, Thongdok was uniquely targeted during her transit, obstructed from proceeding to Japan. Forced to either return to the UK or travel back to India, she found herself stuck, as officials did not recognize her passport as valid. Complications arose when her airline only lodged complaints regarding her documents upon her arrival in China.

Adding to her plight, Thongdok was grappling with China's severe internet restrictions and social media constraints, known as the "Great Firewall." This prevented her from contacting the Indian embassy or reaching out to family for hours, compounded by the slow Wi-Fi at the airport that limited her ability to get assistance.

After lengthy discussions lasting between 10 and 12 hours, Thongdok finally persuaded the Chinese authorities to allow her to reach her lawyer through a landline. With help from friends back in London, she was able to connect with the Indian embassy located in Shanghai. Nevertheless, despite intervention from Indian officials, immigration authorities did not permit her onward travel to Japan, mandating her to book a flight exclusively with China Eastern Airlines. This was especially frustrating since the airline had initially permitted her to board in London.

Ultimately drained by the entire experience and incurring costs from canceled flights and accommodations, Thongdok departed China on a connecting flight via Bangkok. The ordeal resulted in significant emotional turmoil and financial setback for her.

In response to criticism, Chinese authorities have denied any claims of mistreatment, asserting that their immigration procedures complied with their established laws and regulations.

This incident sheds light on the continued tensions surrounding the disputed status of Arunachal Pradesh between India and China, as well as the difficulties travelers can face due to stringent internet censorship in China, particularly when urgent communication is necessary.