Table Of Contents
Summary
On 21 November 2025, 32-year-old Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen from Rupa, Arunachal Pradesh, who lives and works in the United Kingdom, was detained for 18 hours at Shanghai Pudong International Airport while transiting from London to Tokyo.
Chinese immigration officers spotted “Arunachal Pradesh, India” on her valid Indian passport, declared it “invalid”, laughed at her, repeatedly told her “Arunachal is not India, it is China; you are Chinese, get a Chinese passport”, mocked her in front of airline staff, took selfies with her passport, and confined her to a small room without food, water, or phone charging for several hours.
She was racially humiliated, denied basic facilities, and only released after Indian consular officials rushed to the airport with food, negotiated for hours, and finally escorted her to a delayed flight at 2 a.m. the next day.
India immediately lodged a strong diplomatic protest (demarche) in Beijing and New Delhi, calling the incident a violation of international aviation norms and a direct challenge to India’s sovereignty; China denied any harassment and insisted Arunachal (which it calls Zangnan) is Chinese territory.
The episode has sparked nationwide outrage, reinforced India’s stand that Arunachal is an integral part of the country, and prompted calls for a travel advisory against transiting through China for citizens from the state.
Complete Details
Imagine landing for a simple five-hour layover, excited to reach Tokyo, only to be dragged into a tiny room, have your Indian passport declared “invalid”, and be laughed at for 18 straight hours while officials insist, “You are Chinese. Arunachal is China.”
That is not fiction.
That is exactly what happened to 32-year-old Prema Wangjom Thongdok on 21 November 2025 at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
This is the complete, updated, and final deep-dive into one of the most shocking incidents of 2025, every timeline detail, every fresh statement, every diplomatic twist, and every lesson for Indian travellers.
Who Exactly Is Prema Wangjom Thongdok?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Prema Wangjom Thongdok (also Pem Wang Thongdok) |
| Age | 32 |
| Native Place | Rupa, West Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh |
| Current Base | United Kingdom (14 years) |
| Education | BA Economics (Hons) – Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University MSc International Business – University of Hertfordshire PhD candidate in Anthropology – SOAS, University of London |
| Profession | High-profile financial advisor + researcher |
| Passport | Indian Passport Z649****, Mar 2024 – valid till 2034 |
| Birthplace on the passport | Rupa, Arunachal Pradesh, INDIA |
| Previous Shanghai transits | 2022 & 2023 – completely smooth |
Prema is not a politician, activist, or soldier.
She is an accomplished professional who speaks “shuddh Hindi”, celebrates Losar and Diwali with equal joy, and proudly carries an Indian passport.
However, on 21 November, her birthplace turned her into a geopolitical pawn.
The Full 18 Hour Timeline – Hour By Hour
| Time | What Happened? |
|---|---|
| ~08:00 AM | Lands Shanghai Pudong from London on China Eastern flight (inbound leg of CA423 equivalent) |
| ~08:30 AM | Initially, cleared immigration → flagged again at security. Female officer points at birthplace: “Arunachal – not India, China only.” |
| 08:30 – 09:30 AM | Pulled out of the queue. Officers laugh, high-five airline staff, and take selfies with her passport. Repeated chant: “You are Chinese. Get a Chinese passport.” |
| 09:30 AM – Afternoon | Confined to a small holding room. No food, no water, no charging point, initially no toilet access. Phone is dying because of the Great Firewall – WhatsApp, Google, everything blocked. |
| Afternoon | UK-based friend alerted → contacts the Indian Consulate Shanghai emergency line. Vice Consul Nitin Anand reaches the airport within hours with Maggi, Biscuits, and Water. |
| Afternoon → Night | Chinese officials refuse a transit stamp. Indian diplomats invoke the Chicago & Montreal Conventions + China’s own 24-hour visa-free policy. Stalemate. |
| Evening | Prema misses the original Tokyo flight. The Chinese side suggests “Go back to London or Delhi.” She demands written proof that Arunachal passports are invalid – refused. |
| ~02:00 AM (22 Nov) | After 18 hours, the passport returned (no stamp). Indian officials personally escorted her to the gate. Boards delayed China Eastern flight to Tokyo (later rerouted to Bangkok). |
Prema’s own words (24 November):
“They treated me like a criminal. They laughed non-stop, clicked photos with my passport, and kept saying ‘Arunachal-China, not India’. I have never felt so humiliated in my life.”
India’s Thunderous Response vs China’s Cold Denial
| Side | Actions |
|---|---|
| Ministry of External Affairs (Randhir Jaiswal, 25 Nov) | “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. The detention was arbitrary and in violation of international civil aviation norms as well as China’s own visa-free transit rules. Strong demarche delivered in Beijing and New Delhi.” |
| Indian Consulate Shanghai | Officials reached within hours, provided food, negotiated continuously, and escorted her to the aircraft. |
| Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu | “Appalling racist mockery. Arunachal is an eternal part of India.” |
| Union Minister Kiren Rijiju | “Unacceptable harassment of Indian citizens must stop.” |
| Arunachal Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) – 26 Nov | “Arunachal has always been and will always remain an integral part of India.” |
| Rajya Sabha MP Fauzia Khan (NCP) – 26 Nov | “Blatant disrespect to India’s sovereignty and the dignity of an Indian citizen.” |
| Chinese Foreign Ministry (Mao Ning, 25 Nov) | “No coercion or harassment. Handled according to the law. China has never recognised the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ illegally set up by India. Zangnan is Chinese territory.” The claimed airline provided food and rest (directly contradicted by Prema). |
The Long, Ugly Pattern – This Is Not The First Time
| Year | Incident |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Tibetan-origin Arunachali denied entry; passport torn |
| 2022 | Multiple visa denials to Arunachal residents |
| 2023 | 31 Arunachal athletes denied visas for Hangzhou Asian Games → India boycotted BRICS meet |
| Oct 2024 | Two Arunachal officials were denied entry at the Guizhou airport |
| Nov 2025 | Prema Wangjom Thongdok – 18-hour detention & mockery |
China has been using immigration counters as a low-cost way to push its “Zangnan” narrative for years.
2025 is simply the loudest chapter yet.
Why This Incident Stings Extra Hard in 2025
- October 2024: India-China just signed a patrolling pact in Ladakh — the biggest thaw in years.
- 9 November 2025: China Eastern resumes direct Shanghai–Delhi flights after years.
- 21 November 2025: An Indian citizen is humiliated on the very same route.
The irony is brutal.
Prema’s Grace Under Troll Fire
After her story went viral, the usual keyboard warriors questioned her loyalty (“Why doesn’t she live in India?” etc.).
On 25 November, she posted a dignified thread on X:
“I am new to X and have a high-profile job – I do not have time to engage every troll. The right people understood the point: We are one nation, and we stand for one another. I raised this issue not for myself but for every fellow Indian, especially from the Northeast, who might face similar harassment.”
That shut the noise down beautifully.
Practical Takeaways For Every Indian Traveller (Especially From Border States)
| Tip | Why? |
|---|---|
| Avoid transiting via mainland China if your passport mentions Arunachal, Ladakh, or any disputed birthplace. | The Risk of detention is real |
| Fly via Seoul, Singapore, Doha, Dubai, Taipei, or Hong Kong instead | Safer, often cheaper too |
| Save offline embassy emergency numbers | Great Firewall blocks everything |
| Carry portable charger + VPN | Prema’s phone died – that made everything worse |
| Inform family/friends of the exact itinerary | Her UK friend saved the day |
Prema has formally requested the MEA to issue a travel advisory.
Many believe it is only a matter of time.
Final Thoughts – This Is Bigger Than One Woman
Prema Wangjom Thongdok walked out of Shanghai Pudong shaken but unbroken.
In doing so, she reminded 1.4 billion Indians of a simple truth:
Arunachal Pradesh is in India: every inch, every citizen, every heartbeat.
From the Governor’s residence in Itanagar to the consulate corridors in Shanghai, from Prema’s dignified X thread to the demarche in Beijing, India spoke with one voice.
We, at THOUSIF Inc. – INDIA, salute her courage and thank every diplomat who turned up.
This story is far from over, but the message is crystal clear: Touch one Indian, and the entire nation stands up.
Stay safe, stay proud, and keep travelling, just maybe not via Shanghai for now.
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