Post by : Rameen Ariff

Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK citizen originally hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, experienced an alarming and prolonged incident at Shanghai airport in China. On November 21, during her transit from London to Japan, she was held for around 18 hours by Chinese immigration, who challenged her Indian passport, asserting it was invalid due to her Arunachal Pradesh origin, which they claimed is Chinese territory.

Thongdok, who has been residing in the UK for 14 years and works as a financial advisor, was detained while trying to continue her journey to Japan. She was left with the choice to either return to the UK or fly back to India, as the immigration officials refused to accept her passport as a valid travel document. Complicating matters further, the airline responsible for allowing her on the flight from London only registered issues with her travel upon her arrival in China.

Adding to her plight was China’s stringent internet censorship, referred to as the “Great Firewall.” Thongdok struggled to reach the Indian embassy or her family for hours, as popular messaging services like WhatsApp, Google, Facebook, and Instagram are all blocked in China. The slow Wi-Fi at the airport made it even harder for her to seek assistance, exacerbating her circumstances.

After lengthy discussions lasting between 10 to 12 hours, Thongdok succeeded in persuading the Chinese officials to let her use a landline to contact her lawyer. With support from friends in London, she finally reached the Indian embassy in Shanghai. Despite intervention from Indian officials, the Chinese authorities maintained that she could not proceed to Japan and could only book a new flight with China Eastern Airlines. This was particularly challenging since the airline had initially permitted her to board in London but then imposed travel restrictions upon her arrival.

Ultimately, feeling drained by the ordeal and burdened by the costs of canceled flights and accommodations, Thongdok departed China on a connecting flight from Bangkok. The entire situation led to significant emotional turmoil and financial strain during her travel.

In response to the incident, Chinese officials denied any wrongdoing, asserting that their immigration practices adhered to national laws and regulations.

This incident brings to light the ongoing friction surrounding Arunachal Pradesh's status between India and China, as well as the complications travelers endure due to China's strict internet regulations, particularly during emergencies demanding swift communication.

#Global