China rejects claims of harassing Indian-origin woman at Shanghai airport over ‘Arunachal’ mention

China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday refused claims of ‘harassing’ or ‘detaining’ the Indian-origin woman over her passport.

“No compulsory measures were taken on her, and there was no so-called ‘detaining’ or 'harassing’. The airline provided her with resting facilities and meals. For anything more specific, I’d refer you to competent authorities,” said Ming during the press conference.

However, her stance on Arunachal Pradesh remained what China has claimed for years, as she began her response with: “Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called “Arunachal Pradesh” illegally set up by India.”

“On the individual case you mentioned, according to what we’ve learned, during the entire time, China’s border inspection authorities carried out checks procedures in accordance with laws and regulations, the law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive, the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected,” she said, as per the ministry’s website.

Earlier, an Indian-origin UK resident from Arunachal Pradesh had alleged that Chinese immigration authorities at Shanghai Pudong Airport detained and harassed her for hours after refusing to acknowledge her Indian passport during a transit stop.  

Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who was travelling from London to Japan on November 21 with a scheduled three-hour layover, said her ordeal stretched to 18 hours after officials declared her passport ‘invalid’ because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

According to her, immigration personnel told her, “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.”

She said several officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her, laughed at her, and even suggested she “apply for a Chinese passport”.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)