China, India trade barbs over alleged detention of Arunachal Pradesh woman
China and India are locked in a diplomatic row after reports that a woman from Arunachal Pradesh, a remote territory administered by India but claimed by China, was allegedly detained by Chinese authorities.
In a statement on Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.
“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India, and this is a self-evident fact,” said ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal. “No amount of denial by the Chinese side is going to change this indisputable reality.”
Earlier, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s longstanding claim that the region referred to by China as Zangnan is part of its territory.
“The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ illegally set up by India,” Mao said, asserting that the area forms part of what China calls “South Tibet.”
India has repeatedly rejected China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, a long-standing flash-point in bilateral relations.
Mao made the remarks in response to questions about an Indian woman who was reportedly detained at Shanghai airport for 18 hours on November 21. The woman, Prema Wangjom Thongdok, is Arunachal-born, of Indian origin, and a UK resident.
Addressing the allegations, Mao denied that Thongdok was detained, saying, “According to what we have learned, during the entire time, China’s border inspection authorities carried out checks procedures in accordance with laws and regulations."
Thongdok alleged that she was detained after the Chinese immigration authorities noted that her passport was invalid as it showed her birthplace as Arunachal Pradesh.
Thongdok, who has lived in the United Kingdom for 14 years, is a native of Rupa town in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district.
Indian officials have said that the matter of Thongdok’s detention had been taken up “strongly with the Chinese side.”
China has said that the authorities were “impartial and non-abusive” and that the rights of Thongdok were “fully protected.”
Arunachal Pradesh is a longstanding point of contention between China and India.
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