Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:33pm on 26 Nov 2025,Wednesday India Global
India strongly rejected China's explanation regarding the detention of Arunachal Pradesh native Pema Wangjom Thongdok at Shanghai airport, calling Beijing's actions "unhelpful" to ongoing efforts to normalize bilateral ties. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed India lodged strong demarches with China in both Beijing and Delhi immediately after the incident. Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen from West Kameng district living abroad for 14 years, alleged Chinese immigration officials declared her passport "invalid" during a November 21 layover because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace. She was detained, questioned, and prevented from boarding her connecting flight from London to Japan during what should have been a three-hour layover, turning it into a traumatic ordeal. (PC: X)
