India lodged a formal protest on December 8, 2025, after Prema Wangjom Thongdok, a UK-based Indian passport holder born in Arunachal Pradesh, faced 18 hours of detention at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on November 21. She was en route from London to Japan when Chinese officials deemed her passport invalid, citing her birthplace in territory China claims as its own. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the action as arbitrary and a violation of international air travel norms.
This episode underscores persistent India China tensions rooted in territorial disputes. Officials from both nations exchanged sharp statements, with India reaffirming Arunachal Pradesh’s status as an integral part. China has yet to respond directly to the latest demand. The event occurs amid cautious improvements in bilateral ties, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s August 2025 visit to Beijing.
Renewed India China Tensions Stem from Arunachal Pradesh Dispute
The detention of Thongdok has reignited the Arunachal Pradesh dispute, a flashpoint in India China tensions for decades. China refers to the northeastern Indian state as Zangnan, part of southern Tibet, and rejects its sovereignty. India maintains Arunachal Pradesh forms an inalienable part of its territory, a position reiterated in every official response to such claims.
On November 26, 2025, shortly after the incident surfaced, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the matter in a statement. “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact. No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality,” Jaiswal said. He noted that Indian missions in Shanghai and Beijing intervened to secure her release after the prolonged hold.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning countered on the same day, stating the airport checks complied with laws and regulations. “The lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected and no compulsory measures were taken on her,” Mao said. She dismissed allegations of harassment, insisting no detention occurred. However, Thongdok detailed her ordeal, including officials mocking her nationality and questioning her Indian identity based on her birthplace.
This clash exemplifies how the Arunachal Pradesh dispute spills into everyday scenarios, complicating Indian transit China safety. The 3,800 km disputed border between India and China has long fuelled mistrust. A deadly skirmish in 2020 along the Line of Actual Control claimed 20 Indian soldiers’ lives and four Chinese troops, marking the worst violence in decades. Since then, both sides have disengaged troops at multiple points, but patrols continue amid fragile truces.
In August 2025, Modi and President Xi Jinping met in Beijing for the first high-level Indian visit in seven years. They pledged to prioritise partnership over rivalry, focusing on trade and economic cooperation. Bilateral trade reached USD 136 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025, up 10 per cent from the previous year. Yet, incidents like Thongdok’s detention signal underlying frictions that could derail progress.
Impact on Indian Transit China Safety and Broader Regional Stability
For ordinary Indians, the Shanghai episode amplifies worries about Indian transit China safety. Thongdok qualified for China’s 24-hour visa-free transit policy, yet officials barred her from her onward flight. She described being isolated in a holding area, denied food initially, and subjected to repeated interrogations. Only after diplomatic pressure did authorities allow her to proceed.
The MEA has issued a China border travel advisory, urging nationals to exercise due discretion when travelling to or through China. “We expect the Chinese authorities to provide assurances that Indian citizens transiting through Chinese airports will not be selectively targeted, arbitrarily detained or harassed,” Jaiswal stated during the December 8 weekly briefing. He emphasised respect for international air travel regulations.
This advisory comes as air travel between India and China rebounds. Direct flights resumed in 2024 after a four-year COVID hiatus, with over 200 weekly services by late 2025. Indian carriers like Air India and IndiGo operate routes to major hubs including Shanghai and Beijing. However, the incident may deter travellers, particularly those from border states like Arunachal Pradesh.
In South Asia, India China tensions carry ripple effects. Pakistan, a close Chinese ally via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, watches developments closely. Enhanced India-China discord could stabilise regional dynamics by diverting Beijing’s focus, but escalation risks broader instability. South Asian economies rely on stable Himalayan borders for hydropower projects and trade routes. The Arunachal Pradesh dispute alone affects 1.4 million residents, many dependent on cross-border livelihoods.
Data from the MEA shows over 500,000 Indians visited China in 2025, up 25 per cent from 2024. Incidents like this could impact remittances and tourism, sectors vital to India’s USD 3.7 trillion economy. Similarly, Chinese investments in Indian infrastructure, totalling USD 2 billion annually, face scrutiny amid trust deficits.
Experts note that such events test diplomatic channels established post-2020. The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs held its 23rd meeting in July 2025, agreeing on buffer zones. Yet, unilateral actions at airports bypass these forums, eroding confidence.
Historical Context of the Arunachal Pradesh Dispute
The Arunachal Pradesh dispute traces to 1914, when British India drew the McMahon Line as the border with Tibet. China never recognised this demarcation, viewing it as colonial imposition. Post-independence, India administered the region as a union territory, granting statehood in 1987.
Beijing intensified claims in the 2000s, renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh and issuing stapled visas to residents, denying standard passports. India retaliated by boycotting Chinese visas for its officials. The 2020 Galwan clash, though in Ladakh, heightened sensitivities across the frontier, including Arunachal.
In 2024, China released a list of 30 new names for Arunachal locations, prompting India’s firm rebuttal. Such moves coincide with infrastructure builds, like the 450 km highway parallel to the border, raising Indian security concerns.
Diplomatic Efforts and Stalemates
Bilateral talks have yielded partial successes. The 2005 agreement on political parameters for border settlement committed both to peaceful resolution. Yet, 22 rounds of special representative dialogues since 2003 remain inconclusive.
Modi’s August 2025 visit signalled thaw, with agreements on resuming river data sharing for Brahmaputra basin management, a key Arunachal asset. Flood warnings from China prevent annual damages estimated at INR 1,000 crore in India. However, the transit incident suggests gaps in implementation.
China Border Travel Advisory: Practical Implications for Indians
The MEA’s China border travel advisory extends beyond airports to land crossings. Ladakh and Sikkim posts report increased scrutiny since 2020, with pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar facing delays. In 2025, 15,000 Indians undertook the pilgrimage, down from pre-pandemic peaks.
For businesses, India China tensions disrupt supply chains. Electronics imports from China, worth USD 20 billion yearly, rely on seamless logistics. The advisory recommends registering with Indian embassies abroad and carrying multiple identity proofs.
Airlines have adjusted: Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, common transit options, now highlight China’s transit rules. IndiGo plans three new routes to China in 2026, pending stability.
What’s Next in India China Tensions
As India presses for assurances, Beijing’s response will gauge commitment to de-escalation. Scheduled foreign secretary-level talks in January 2026 offer a venue to address the Arunachal Pradesh dispute and transit issues. Failure to resolve could prompt India to tighten its own visa norms for Chinese nationals, currently at 1.5 million annually.
In South Asia, sustained India China tensions may push regional forums like SAARC towards irrelevance, while BIMSTEC gains traction for sub-continental cooperation. Ultimately, mutual respect for sovereignty remains key to unlocking economic potentials estimated at USD 500 billion by 2030.
India China tensions, while rooted in history, demand pragmatic diplomacy to safeguard citizens and commerce.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 9th, 2025
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