Arunachal Woman Hits Back at Trolls After Shanghai Airport Harassment
Pema Wang Thongdok, an Arunachal Pradesh native, has responded to online trolls following her alleged harassment at Shanghai airport, emphasising unity among Indians. She clarified that any action taken by the Indian government is for the benefit of all citizens, not her personally.
Thongdok, who was travelling from London to Japan on November 21, accused Chinese immigration officials of detaining her for 18 hours during a layover. She alleged that officials refused to recognise her Indian passport, claiming her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was “part of China.”
In a social media post, she expressed gratitude to those supporting her and addressed critics:
“I would like to thank everyone speaking in support of this diplomatic issue. I don’t have time to respond to trollers as I hold a high-profile full-time position in financial services. The right people understand my point, and others are not my concern.”
She urged Indians to remain united:
“I don’t even live in India, so any action taken by the Indian government will be for the benefit and pride of my fellow Indians and Arunachalis living abroad, not mine. We are one nation; we stand for one another.”
What Happened in Shanghai
Thongdok described the incident as a “direct insult to India’s sovereignty.” She said Chinese officials deemed her passport invalid upon seeing Arunachal Pradesh as her birthplace, confiscated it, and denied her boarding on a flight to Japan despite holding a valid visa.
She also alleged that officers and China Eastern Airlines staff mocked her, suggesting she apply for a Chinese passport, and denied her access to food and other airport facilities. She eventually had to contact the Indian Consulate in Shanghai via a friend in the UK to continue her journey late at night.
Indian Government Response
The Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated:
“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. No denial by the Chinese side can change this indisputable reality.” India has lodged strong protests with China both in Beijing and New Delhi following the incident.
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