India on Tuesday issued a strong statement against China after an Indian national Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, alleged "humiliating, questionable behaviour" from the staff of China Eastern Airlines.
She claimed that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport declared her Indian passport invalid and delayed her travel to Japan.
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China on Tuesday rejected allegations of harassment levelled by her, saying that "the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected and no compulsory measures were taken on her".
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Wangjom Thongdok had narrated her "long ordeal" and stated that she faced harassment from Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport, who "mocked and raised questions" over her Indian citizenship and noted that her 18-hour ordeal came to an end with the help of officials from India's missions in Shanghai and Beijing.
The MEA responded to media queries on statements made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
The MEA said in a released statement, “We have seen statements made by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the arbitrary detention of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh, who was holding a valid passport and was transiting through Shanghai International Airport on her onward travel to Japan.
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.
The issue of the detention has been taken up strongly with the Chinese side. Chinese authorities have still not been able to explain their actions, which are in violation of several conventions governing international air travel. The actions by the Chinese authorities also violate their own regulations that allow visa free transit up to 24 hours for nationals of all countries.”