China-India squabble over Arunachal Pradesh: What is it about? What are the claims?
Femy Francis 

What happened?
On 21 November, an Indian citizen from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, Prema Wangjom Thongdo, was travelling with her Indian passport from the UK on route to Japan. Prema was stopped at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport in China for what was supposed to be a three-hour layover, which turned into an 18-hour stay.

Prema claimed that at the Shanghai airport, the authorities first detained her and harassed her for the span of 18 hours because the passport mentioned her place of birth as Arunachal Pradesh. The authorities stated that the Indian passport with which she is travelling is invalid, claiming that Arunachal Pradesh was part of China and that she should apply for a Chinese passport. To which she responded, “Arunachal is part of India. I’ve never heard of it being part of China.” She informed that she was kept at the airport without being told the time she would be inspected. She also informed that she was pressured to buy a new ticket on China Eastern Airlines, only then would her passport be returned. Due to this mishap, she not only lost money, but she also missed her flight to Japan and her hotel reservation. Prema also informed that she travelled through Shanghai Pudong International Airport in October without any issues.

What is the visa issue?  
The issue for Indian citizens of Arunachal Pradesh travelling through China is not a first. In 2005, China adopted a policy that people from that state coming to China will be issued a stapled visa, reasoning that they cannot issue a regular visa to them as they consider them to be part of China.

This was never accepted by the Indian government, and in 2013, two archers supposed to attend the Youth World Archery Championship were issued a stapled visa by China; they were barred from travelling from India. More recently, in 2023, three martial arts athletes from Arunachal Pradesh were issued similar visas and were banned from leaving the country for the World University Games.

What are the claims?
Since the time of British rule, there has been an India-China border dispute over Arunachal Pradesh. In 1014, the McMahon Line was established during the Simla Convention, which the Chinese delegation never attested to. India has treated the McMahon Line as the border with China, while China stated that they need to negotiate this border rather than relying on the British-era line. China claims a part of Arunachal Pradesh as their own, which is Tawang, while in recent years it has extended to the whole of the northeastern region states of India. China insisted that Arunachal Pradesh is an extension of Tibet.

Who said what?
In response to Prema’s story being published, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning said: “Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh, illegally set up by India.” She stressed that they had dealt with the issue in accordance with their laws and regulations. Mao said: “The law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive. The lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected. No compulsory measures were taken against her, and there was no so-called detaining or harassing. The airline provided her with resting facilities and meals.”

In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “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.” He also informed that the issue of detention has been taken up with the Chinese side, and they have not been able to explain their actions that have violated several conventions governing international air travel.

References
Sarah Shamim, “India-China in new spat over Arunachal Pradesh: What’s it all about?,” Al-Jazeera, 26 November 2025
Kehsav Padmanabhan, “China’s actions ‘most unhelpful’ in building mutual trust—India after Arunachal woman’s ordeal,” The Print, 26 November 2025
Yuanyue Dang, “China denies harassing Indian woman born in disputed border region over ‘invalid’ passport,” SCMP, 25 November 2025