Tensions have surfaced between India and China following the alleged detention and mistreatment of an Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh during a transit stop in Shanghai. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has strongly reaffirmed the nation’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it an integral and inalienable part of India.
The incident involved a woman traveling from the UK to Japan, who was reportedly taken aside by Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai International Airport. She claims officials declared her Indian passport invalid, stated Arunachal Pradesh was not part of India, and questioned her nationality. This occurred despite her possessing a valid passport and being within China’s transit visa-free allowance period. India has formally lodged complaints in both its capital and its embassy in Beijing, highlighting the breach of international transit regulations.
Indian consular staff were dispatched to the airport to support the woman. Conversely, China’s Foreign Ministry has refuted the claims of detention and harassment, asserting that standard procedures were followed and the passenger’s rights were upheld. This incident has also seen China reiterating its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh, referring to it as ‘Zangnan’ and stating it does not recognize the Indian state. India’s government has dismissed these claims, emphasizing the undeniable reality of its sovereign control over the region.