Reports that an Indian woman was harassed and detained for 18 hours while transiting through China recently has sparked off a political storm. The woman from Arunachal Pradesh was reportedly asked to “apply for a Chinese passport” by officials at Shanghai airport during a layover. The Chinese officials’ contention was that the Indian passport of the flyer from Arunachal was not valid since the Indian state was a part of China. The woman also disclosed that she did not have any issue while her travel through China in October 2024.

The Ministry of External Affairs took issued a strong demarche to China. The government asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India, and that its residents are entitled to travel on Indian passports. This action has been followed up with the government asking Chinese authorities to give assurances that Indian nationals will not be selectively targeted while they travel or transit through China. Short of an adverse travel advisory, the government has cautioned Indian nationals travelling through the mainland to exercise “discretion”. A question on this issue posed by an Indian journalist in Beijing to a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has revealed Beijing’s mind. The spokesperson reiterated that “Arunachal Pradesh” had been illegally established by India, and that the territory had not been recognised by China. The spokesperson referred to Arunachal Pradesh as “Zangnan” or south Tibet. When........

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