China Detains Indian Citizen, Disputes Passport Validity Over Arunachal Pradesh
Part of composite article World on the Brink: U.S.-Iran Deal Nears as Wars Rage from Lebanon to Ukraine View full article →
Chinese authorities detained an Indian citizen for 18 hours at Shanghai's airport, claiming her Indian passport was invalid. Officials stated the document was not recognized because the woman is a resident of Arunachal Pradesh, a region China claims as part of its territory.
India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly rejected China's action. A spokesperson stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and that Chinese officials have no right to comment on the status of Indian citizens from the region.
The incident is the latest diplomatic friction over the disputed border area. China refers to Arunachal Pradesh as "Zangnan" and asserts it is part of southern Tibet. India has consistently rejected these claims.
The detained woman was released following intervention by the Indian Embassy in China. The Indian government has lodged a formal protest with Chinese authorities over the detention.