New Delhi and Beijing clash over detention of Indian citizen
India said on Wednesday that it registered a strong protest with China over what it considers the “arbitrary” detention of an Indian citizen at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport, adding that moves such as this are “most unhelpful” amid efforts to rebuild ties.
The two neighbors clashed over the detention of Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen born in the northeastern border state of Arunachal Pradesh, a region claimed by Beijing.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said India and China have “worked closely to maintain peace and tranquility in the border regions,” and that special progress “on people-centric engagements” has been made.
“Arbitrary actions by China, as the one that I refer to, involving an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, are most unhelpful towards efforts being made by both sides to build mutual trust and understanding and gradually move towards normalization of bilateral relations,” Jaiswal added.
On Sunday, Thongdok said she was detained for 18 hours without food and was harassed by the immigration authorities in Shanghai where she was in transit for a flight to Japan.
Thongdok stated that the Chinese authorities said her passport is “invalid,” adding that she was only allowed to proceed from Shanghai after the Indian Consulate intervened.
India issued a démarche on Monday to China both in New Delhi and Beijing over the detention.
China calls Arunachal Pradesh ‘Zangnan’, or ‘southern Tibet’.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, “Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ illegally set up by India.”
She denied that Thongdok was harassed in Shanghai, adding that “law enforcement was impartial and non-abusive,” and that “the lawful rights and interests” of Thongdok were “fully protected.” Mao noted that the airline “provided her with resting facilities and meals.”
China’s ambassador in New Delhi, Xu Feihong, addressed the matter during a discussion on Wednesday. “The border issue is a very complex and very sensitive issue. It indeed takes time to resolve it,” he said. “But I believe that China and India, as ancient civilizations, have sufficient wisdom and capability to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas and find a fair, reasonable and mutually-acceptable solution.”
