By Suresh Unnithan
In a brazen display of territorial aggression, Chinese officials recently detained an Indian national from Arunachal Pradesh at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport on charges of holding “invalid” travel documents. Citing her birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, as reason to declare her Indian passport “invalid” Pema Wangjom Thongdok was detained by the immigration officials. Pema, a UK-based Indian national traveling from London to Japan, endured nearly 18 hours of harassment on November 21, 2025, after immigration authorities allegedly informed her that “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China” and that she was, in fact, Chinese. The story gained public attention after she posted about it on X (formerly Twitter) on November 23, 2025. This incident has sparked widespread outrage, not only for the personal ordeal faced by Thongdok but also for its implications on India’s territorial integrity.
Arunachal Pradesh, an integral state of the Union of India, has long been a flashpoint in the Sino-Indian border dispute. China refers to the region as “Zangnan” or “South Tibet,” refusing to acknowledge India’s sovereignty despite repeated rejections from New Delhi. By detaining an Indian citizen solely based on her Arunachali origins, Chinese authorities have effectively challenged India’s control over the territory. This is no isolated bureaucratic error; it echoes Beijing’s persistent strategy of undermining Indian passports and visas linked to the state, a tactic that has surfaced in previous incidents but rarely with such overt harassment.
The Indian government, through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), swiftly responded by issuing a “strong demarche” to the Chinese embassy in Delhi, labeling the grounds for detention as “ludicrous” and demanding respect for Indian passports. The Indian embassy in Beijing also intervened to secure Thongdok’s release, providing consular assistance during her ordeal. However, critics argue that this diplomatic protest, while necessary, falls short of the robust retaliation required to deter future provocations. The question arises: Is the Modi government’s measured approach emboldening China?
Historical precedents suggest a pattern. India’s relative silence following the 2017 Doklam standoff and the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clashes—where Chinese forces encroached on Indian Territory—may have signaled weakness to Beijing. In Doklam, India successfully halted Chinese road construction, but the lack of sustained follow-up allowed tensions to simmer. Similarly, the Galwan incident, which claimed 20 Indian lives, led to economic boycotts and app bans but did not fundamentally alter the border dynamics. China’s unfounded claims on Arunachal continue unabated, with Beijing periodically renaming places in the state to assert dominance—a move India has firmly rejected, as seen in its response to a May 2025 renaming effort. Yet, without a more assertive reply, such as enhanced border infrastructure or multilateral pressure, these claims persist, manifesting in incidents like Thongdok’s detention.
Compounding the issue is India’s economic entanglement with China. The bilateral trade deficit has ballooned to alarming levels, reaching $64 billion in the April-October 2025 period alone, on track to exceed the FY25 record of over $99 billion. India remains heavily dependent on Chinese imports for critical sectors, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), electronics, domestic consumer goods, and automotive spares. While exports to China have surged—growing 24.7% year-on-year to $10.03 billion in the same period—imports dwarf them, fueling Beijing’s economic leverage. This imbalance may embolden China to act with impunity, knowing that India hesitates to escalate for fear of disrupting supply chains. Critics contend that the Modi government’s inability or unwillingness to diversify imports and reduce this dependency has contributed to China’s “thug-like” behavior.
It is high time for India to mount a multifaceted response. Diplomatically, the government should escalate the matter at international forums like the United Nations, rallying support from allies such as the United States and Japan through the Quad alliance to highlight China’s disregard for international norms. Economically, accelerating initiatives like “Make in India” and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme could reduce reliance on Chinese goods, while imposing targeted tariffs or restrictions on non-essential imports might send a clear signal. Militarily, bolstering defenses along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal, including infrastructure development and troop deployments, would underscore India’s resolve.
Silence or half-measures will only invite further encroachments. As Thongdok’s experience illustrates, China’s claims are not abstract—they affect real lives and challenge India’s sovereignty head-on. The Modi government must act decisively to protect its citizens and borders, proving that India will not tolerate such provocations. Only through strength and strategy can New Delhi reclaim the narrative and deter Beijing’s expansionist ambitions.
