India’s foreign ministry has lodged a strong diplomatic protest with Beijing after 33-year-old Prema Wangjom Thongdok—an Indian passport-holder born in Arunachal Pradesh—was stopped during a 21 November lay-over at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and held for 18 hours. Chinese immigration officials allegedly declared her Indian passport “invalid” because it listed Arunachal Pradesh—territory China claims as “Zangnan”—as her birthplace.
The incident comes just three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August visit to China, which was intended to reset relations damaged by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. By accusing China of violating the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and other transit-rights treaties, New Delhi signalled that mobility disruptions affecting ordinary travellers can quickly become geopolitical flashpoints.
![India Protests Detention of Arunachal-Born Passenger at Shanghai Airport]()
For global mobility and travel-risk managers, the episode highlights three operational issues. First, Indian passport holders from Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh or other disputed regions may face heightened scrutiny on transits through mainland China—even when merely connecting to third-country flights. Second, airlines operating through Chinese hubs could see increased duty-of-care demands from corporate clients moving employees with Indian passports. Third, visa-issuance or immigration clearance for Chinese nationals in India—recently restarted after a two-year pause—could again become a bargaining chip if similar incidents recur.
Practically, companies sending staff through Chinese airports should conduct enhanced route assessments, brief travellers on secondary-inspection risks, and keep emergency contact protocols updated. Using alternate hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Seoul for onward Asia-Pacific connections may mitigate exposure for employees whose documents reference disputed territories.
The foreign ministry says it is “closely monitoring” the situation and expects a formal explanation from Beijing. While a single case may not derail incremental reconciliation efforts, it underscores how unresolved border disputes can erupt into mobility obstacles with little warning.
The incident comes just three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August visit to China, which was intended to reset relations damaged by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. By accusing China of violating the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation and other transit-rights treaties, New Delhi signalled that mobility disruptions affecting ordinary travellers can quickly become geopolitical flashpoints.
For global mobility and travel-risk managers, the episode highlights three operational issues. First, Indian passport holders from Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh or other disputed regions may face heightened scrutiny on transits through mainland China—even when merely connecting to third-country flights. Second, airlines operating through Chinese hubs could see increased duty-of-care demands from corporate clients moving employees with Indian passports. Third, visa-issuance or immigration clearance for Chinese nationals in India—recently restarted after a two-year pause—could again become a bargaining chip if similar incidents recur.
Practically, companies sending staff through Chinese airports should conduct enhanced route assessments, brief travellers on secondary-inspection risks, and keep emergency contact protocols updated. Using alternate hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore or Seoul for onward Asia-Pacific connections may mitigate exposure for employees whose documents reference disputed territories.
The foreign ministry says it is “closely monitoring” the situation and expects a formal explanation from Beijing. While a single case may not derail incremental reconciliation efforts, it underscores how unresolved border disputes can erupt into mobility obstacles with little warning.
