Updated: Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:15 (IST) India has asked China to ensure that Indian nationals passing through Chinese airports will not be deliberately targeted. The Ministry of External Affairs said this … read more Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs. (File Photo) Digital Desk, New Delhi. India said on Monday it hoped Chinese authorities would ensure that Indian nationals passing through Chinese airports would not be deliberately targeted, arbitrarily detained or harassed. Remove Ads Just Read News This strong statement came when an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh was arbitrarily detained by Chinese authorities at Shanghai International Airport last month. New Delhi described this incident as a clear violation of international rules and bilateral understanding. What did the Foreign Office say? “We hope that the Chinese authorities will ensure that Indian citizens traveling through Chinese airports will not be deliberately targeted, arbitrarily detained or harassed and that the rules governing international air travel will be respected by the Chinese side,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a weekly media briefing in New Delhi. He further said, “The Ministry of External Affairs will advise Indian citizens to exercise caution when traveling to China or traveling through that country.” What is the matter? Prema Wangjom Thongdok, an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, alleged that on November 21, while traveling from London to Japan, when she had a short layover of just three hours, Chinese immigration officials detained her for 18 hours. He reported that officials refused to accept his Indian passport, claiming that his birthplace, Arunachal Pradesh, was “part of China”. After this shocking incident, India strongly raised the matter with the Chinese side. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on November 25: “Chinese officials have still not explained their actions, which violate several conventions governing international air travel. These actions of Chinese officials also violate their own rules, which allow citizens of all countries visa-free transit for up to 24 hours.” New Delhi has also consistently reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inseparable part of the country. A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “This is an indisputable truth. No amount of denial or misrepresentation by China can change this truth.”