Pema Wang Thongdok, a resident of Arunachal Pradesh, has taken a firm stand against the online backlash she has faced after Chinese authorities detained her at Shanghai airport. She explained that the Indian government’s reaction is aimed at protecting the dignity of all Indians—not just her personal situation.
On November 21, during a short transit from London to Japan, Thongdok was held for 18 hours by Chinese immigration officials. They rejected her Indian passport on the grounds that her birthplace was described as “part of China”, a claim she deemed completely unfounded.
In a public message on X, she thanked supporters and addressed the trolls: “I would like to thank everyone speaking in support of this diplomatic issue, and while I’m new here and not active on X, it’s because I have a very high-profile full-time position working in financial services and don’t have idle time to answer trollers.” She clarified that those who truly understood her point were the right audience, while others she chose not to engage.
Thongdok stressed unity within India: “I don’t even live in India so any action that the Indian govt takes will be for the benefit & pride of my fellow Indians and Arunachalis living here, not mine. We are one nation we stand for one another.”
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs strongly protested the so‑called “arbitrary detention,” labeling it a breach of international law and of established bilateral agreements. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had firmly raised the matter with Beijing, noting that China has yet to offer a credible explanation. He reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh remains an irrevocably integral part of India—a fact that China’s denials cannot alter.
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