Arunachal ‘Inalienable’ Part of India: New Delhi To China After Indian Woman Harassed In Shanghai

India on Tuesday reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable" part of the country, hours after China reiterated its territorial claims and denied allegations of harassment faced by an Indian woman at Shanghai airport.

Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian citizen, alleged her three-hour layover on November 21 turned into a distressing ordeal when Chinese immigration officials declared her passport "invalid" because it listed Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace.

Responding to the incident, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning insisted the woman was not detained or harassed. "China's border inspection authorities acted in accordance with laws and regulations and safeguarded her rights. Zangnan is China's territory. China never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally set up by India," Mao said.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly rejected the claim. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: "Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality." He added that the matter had been raised with Beijing, stressing that the actions violated international air travel conventions and China's own visa-free transit rules.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed "deep shock" over the incident, calling the alleged "racial mockery" faced by Thongdok "appalling."

India has consistently dismissed Chinese claims over the northeastern state. In recent years, Beijing has attempted to reinforce its position by renaming towns and geographical features in Arunachal Pradesh, a move New Delhi has categorically rejected.