Indian Woman Detained in China Over Passport

• Indian citizen Prema Tongdok was detained in China for 18 hours over her passport.
• India protests, asserting that Arunachal Pradesh is part of its territory.
• China maintains its claims over Arunachal Pradesh.

On November 21, 2025, Indian citizen Prema Tongdok, who resides in Great Britain, was detained for 18 hours at Shankhay Airport during a transit stop on her way to Japan. The reason for her detention was that Chinese officials recognized her passport as invalid due to an indication that she was born in Arunachal Pradesh, a territory that China considers part of its region.

During the passport control process, they specifically noted from the queue and stated that her passport was not valid. "They claimed that Arunachal Pradesh is part of China, so my passport is not valid," Tongdok explained. She also mentioned that she was advised to obtain a Chinese passport.

Airport staff confiscated her passport and did not allow her to continue her journey to Japan, forcing her to choose between returning to Great Britain or India. After she contacted the Indian consulate, she was given assistance, but the Chinese side continued to refuse her exit.

The Indian government expressed protest against China, calling the detention "absurd." Diplomats emphasized that Arunachal Pradesh is "an integral part of India." In response, China reiterated its claim over the territory.

This incident is a manifestation of ongoing tensions between India and China, despite recent improvements in relations between the countries in recent months. Relations between the states are complicated by a long-standing border conflict that has persisted for many decades.

Tags: China/Politics