A diplomatic spat has emerged between India and China following the alleged detention of an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh at Shanghai airport. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has labeled China’s actions as “arbitrary” and unhelpful in rebuilding mutual trust between the two countries. The MEA spokesperson stressed the critical importance of peace and tranquility along the border for the progressive development of bilateral ties.
The MEA unequivocally stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an “integral and inalienable” part of India, dismissing China’s persistent claims. The incident involved Pema Wang Thongdok, who claims Chinese immigration officials detained her for 18 hours on November 21 during a transit stop. The reason cited was the refusal to recognize her Indian passport, as her birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh.
China’s foreign ministry had earlier defended their actions as regulatory compliance and reiterated their territorial claims. The MEA, however, issued a strong rebuttal, calling these “arbitrary actions” counterproductive to the ongoing efforts towards normalizing relations and fostering understanding. “No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality,” the spokesperson asserted.
The Indian government reiterated its consistent stance on Arunachal Pradesh and emphasized that maintaining peace in border areas is a prerequisite for the overall growth of India-China relations. The spokesperson noted that progress in people-centric engagements has been achieved precisely because of the established peace in these regions.
India-China relations have been under strain since the eastern Ladakh border standoff in May 2020. While recent efforts have aimed at stabilizing the relationship, including resuming direct flights and other people-focused initiatives, this incident highlights the persistent underlying tensions and differing interpretations of territorial boundaries, posing challenges to further normalization.
