On 21 November 2025, an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh was reportedly held at Shanghai’s Pudong Airport during a transit, when Chinese immigration officials allegedly declared her Indian passport “invalid” because her birthplace was listed as Arunachal Pradesh a region claimed by China.

In response, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lodged a formal diplomatic protest with Beijing, calling the detention a breach of international air-travel norms and a violation of Indian sovereignty.

The MEA reaffirmed that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India a stance the government says remains non-negotiable.

The incident has reignited tensions in India–China relations, drawing attention to the vulnerability of Indian travellers abroad. Many citizens and officials have urged stronger diplomatic safeguards to ensure that Indian identity documents are respected globally.