Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 26: A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson sparked fresh diplomatic friction on Tuesday after stating that Beijing “does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh” in response to a case involving an Indian woman who reported being mistreated by local authorities in Shanghai.
The incident came to light after the woman named Prema Wangjom Thongdok, reportedly from Arunachal Pradesh, shared on social media that she was subjected to discriminatory questioning and harassment by officials in Shanghai who allegedly doubted her Indian nationality. According to her account, the officials questioned her passport and asked her to prove she was from India, asserting that “Arunachal is China’s territory.”
When asked about the incident at a routine press conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated China’s long-held territorial claim, saying, “The region you refer to is Zangnan, part of China’s territory. China does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh.” The spokesperson did not directly address the woman’s allegation of mistreatment and instead reiterated its long-standing position on Arunachal, calling it “South Tibet,” a stance India rejects.
The remark has triggered strong reactions in India, where officials and commentators criticised China’s attempt to justify the behaviour of Shanghai authorities by invoking its territorial claims. Indian analysts say that the response reflects a growing trend of Beijing extending political narratives into routine administrative encounters involving Indian citizens.
Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu condemned the mistreatment and called the incident “appalling and unacceptable.” Reaffirming that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India, the CM denounced any insinuation to the contrary as “baseless and offensive.” He further called the conduct a violation of international norms and an affront to the dignity of Indian citizens and expressed confidence, saying that the Ministry of External Affairs will urgently take up the matter to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
The Congress also urged the Indian government to respond firmly, saying the matter concerns both the dignity of an Indian citizen and India’s territorial sovereignty. The party said the Centre must take up the issue diplomatically and seek clarity from Beijing.
New Delhi’s response was swift as MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s unequivocal position, stating, “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 confirmed that India has lodged a strong protest with China in both Beijing and New Delhi, emphasising that the Chinese authorities failed to justify the arbitrary treatment of the Indian passenger, who was travelling on a valid Indian passport.
The incident has once again brought India China tensions into focus, especially regarding border disputes and China’s repeated refusal to recognise Arunachal Pradesh as Indian territory.
