Held Hostage for 18 Hours: How China Treated an Indian Woman at Shanghai Airport
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Imagine landing for a short three-hour stopover, excited for your holiday in Japan, and suddenly officials grab your passport, laugh in your face, and tell you that you are not Indian – you are Chinese. This nightmare happened to Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a proud woman from Arunachal Pradesh who has lived in London for the last 14 years. On 21 November 2024, Chinese immigration officers at Shanghai Pudong Airport turned her quick transit into an 18-hour ordeal full of mockery and fear.
Who is Prema Wangjom Thongdok?
Prema works as a senior financial consultant in London. She studied at Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi and later completed her master’s in the UK. She still carries her Indian passport because India does not allow dual citizenship. On that day she was flying from London Gatwick to Japan with a short layover in Shanghai on China Eastern Airlines. She had done the same route in October 2024 without any problem.
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What Exactly Happened at the Airport?
As soon as Prema reached the transit counter, an officer looked at her passport, saw “Arunachal Pradesh” as her place of birth, and declared the passport “invalid”. Officers laughed and told her, “Arunachal is part of China. You are Chinese. Apply for a Chinese passport.” They took her passport away and locked her inside the airport transit area.
For the next 18 hours she had almost no food – only one dry biscuit – and no proper place to rest. Whenever she asked for updates, staff shouted at her. Because China blocks WhatsApp, Google, Instagram and almost every foreign app, she could not call her family or search for the Indian consulate number. Slow airport Wi-Fi made everything worse.
Forced to Miss Her Holiday
Prema had a valid Japanese visa and never planned to enter China. Still, officers refused to let her board the flight to Japan. They gave her only two choices: fly back to London or fly back to India. Later they added a third condition – she could only leave if she bought a new ticket on the same airline, China Eastern. She lost thousands of pounds on cancelled hotels and flights.
Indian Officials Rush to Help
After almost 12 hours of arguing, officers finally allowed her to use a landline. She called friends in London who found the Indian consulate number. Within an hour, Indian diplomats reached the airport, brought her food, and spoke to the Chinese officers. However, Chinese staff even ignored the Indian officials at first. Finally, at 10:20 pm, Prema boarded a flight out – but not to Japan. She had to reroute through Bangkok.
India’s Strong Protest to China
India did not stay quiet. On the same day, 21 November, India issued a strong official protest (called a demarche) in Beijing and New Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs told China clearly:
- Arunachal Pradesh is 100 % Indian territory.
- Every Arunachali has the full right to hold and travel on an Indian passport.
- Holding a transit passenger like this breaks the Chicago and Montreal Conventions on air travel.
- China itself allows 24-hour visa-free transit for everyone – so why single out an Indian?
Later, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said China still has no proper explanation for the “arbitrary detention”.
China’s Cold Reply
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied any harassment. She claimed officers followed the law, the airline gave food and rest, and no force was used. Many people find this reply hard to believe after hearing Prema’s story.
Prema Speaks Up on Social Media
After reaching safety, Prema posted on X (formerly Twitter) to thank everyone who supported her. She also replied to trolls firmly: “I have a high-profile job and no time for idle people. Whatever India does now is for the pride of my fellow Indians and Arunachalis – not for me. We are one nation.”
Why This Matters to Every Indian
China keeps claiming Arunachal Pradesh is “South Tibet” and even renames Indian villages on its maps. This incident shows they are now ready to harass ordinary Indian citizens at airports. Many people worry this could happen again to anyone carrying an Arunachal address.
A Scar That Will Not Fade
Prema says the mockery and fear left deep trauma. She wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office asking India to take strong action. She added, “Maybe India should think about dual citizenship. If I had a British passport, none of this would have happened.”
FAQs
- Why did Chinese officers stop Prema?
They saw “Arunachal Pradesh” in her passport and claimed the state belongs to China. - Was she trying to enter China?
No. She only had a three-hour transit and never left the airport’s international area. - Did she need a Chinese visa?
No. China allows 24-hour visa-free transit for all nationalities, including Indians. - How long was she detained?
Almost 18 hours – from early morning until 10:20 pm the same day. - Who finally helped her leave?
Diplomats from the Indian Consulate in Shanghai came to the airport and arranged her exit flight. - Has China apologised?
No. China only said its officers followed the law and the passenger was treated well.