In a series of posts on X, Thongdok alleged that the authorities claimed her passport was ‘invalid’ as her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was ‘part of China’. The incident took place on November 21 during a layover in Shanghai, when Thongdok was allegedly travelling from London to Japan.
“I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025, on claims by China immigration & @chinaeasternair. They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh, which they claimed is Chinese territory,” she wrote on X.
@pemakhandu @kirenrijuju @PMOIndia I was held at Shanghai airport for over 18 hrs on 21st Nov, 2025 on claims by China immigration & @chinaeasternair They called my Indian passport invalid as my birthplace is Arunachal Pradesh which they claimed is Chinese territory. @cnnbrk
— Pem Wang Thongdok (@wang_pem) November 23, 2025
In a subsequent post, she stated that her identity as an Indian citizen had been questioned due to her birthplace. “Indian citizen held at Shanghai airport on claims that my Indian passport is invalid because I was born in Arunachal Pradesh, India,” Thongdok added.
@PemaKhanduBJP @RijijuOffice @KirenRijiju @cnnbrk @ndtv @PMOIndia Indian citizen held at Shanghai airport on claims that my Indian passport is invalid because I was born in Arunachal Pradesh India
— Pem Wang Thongdok (@wang_pem) November 23, 2025
She also tagged the Prime Minister’s Office, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and multiple media outlets in her posts.In another post, she asked, “Honourable Sirs, is Arunachal Pradesh part of China?”
@PemaKhanduBJP @KirenRijiju @PMOIndia Honorable Sirs, Is Arunachal Pradesh part of China?
— Pem Wang Thongdok (@wang_pem) November 23, 2025
Thongdok was reportedly denied access to food, prevented from boarding her connecting flight, and pressured to purchase a new ticket exclusively on China Eastern Airlines.
Later, in a conversation with India Today, the woman stated that her passport was collected post the immigration process. “After immigration, I submitted my passport and was waiting at security. Just then, an official came and started screaming, ‘India, India,’ with my name and singled me out. When I asked, she took me to the immigration desk and said, ‘Arunachal, not a valid passport,” she was quoted as saying.
She contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai, leading to intervention and her eventual departure.
In a letter to PM Narendra Modi and senior officials, she called the incident a “direct insult to India’s sovereignty and to the citizens of Arunachal Pradesh”.
Thongdok asked the Indian authorities to raise the issue with Beijing, seek responsibility and disciplinary action against the personnel involved, and demand compensation. She further sought assurances that Indians from Arunachal Pradesh would not experience similar challenges while travelling abroad.
