China has sparked a fresh diplomatic controversy by targeting an Indian-origin woman during transit in Shanghai — once again raising tensions at a time when bilateral ties were beginning to improve. The incident involves Parong Du, a UK-based financial adviser originally from Arunachal Pradesh, who was travelling from London to Japan with a scheduled stopover in China.
Parong landed in Shanghai on 21 November, expecting a routine transit experience. Instead, she was singled out at the security checkpoint by Chinese immigration officials, who questioned the validity of her Indian passport. The issue, she later revealed, was her place of birth — Rupa in Arunachal Pradesh. China refuses to recognise Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and claims it as “South Tibet,” echoing Mao Zedong’s outdated and expansionist “Five-Finger Theory.”
According to Parong, officials refused to offer explanations, confiscated her passport, restricted her movement inside the terminal, and denied her proper access to food, rest, and communication. China’s strict internet controls made matters worse — she was unable to access Google, WhatsApp, or social media to contact her family. She described being held for nearly 18 hours, repeatedly dismissed when she asked for clarity, and treated unprofessionally throughout the ordeal.
China, however, denies all allegations. A spokesperson claimed that the immigration authorities acted strictly “in accordance with the law,” insisting there was no detainment, coercion, or harassment. They went further, asserting once again that Arunachal Pradesh is “illegally” administered by India — a statement that India firmly rejects.
After struggling for hours, Parong finally managed to alert a friend in the UK who then contacted the Indian Consulate in Shanghai. Indian officials intervened and arranged for her return via Thailand. While the Government of India has not issued a public statement yet, reports confirm that a formal diplomatic protest has been lodged in both Beijing and New Delhi, reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
This incident fits into a pattern. China has previously used travel-document tactics to challenge India's territorial integrity — most notably through “stapled visas” issued to residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. India has consistently rejected such practices, and even withdrew its athletes from a 2023 martial arts championship in China after participants from Arunachal Pradesh were issued stapled visas.
Given China’s history of manipulating maps, passports, and visas to advance its expansionist claims, this latest incident raises serious concerns. And if Beijing insists that Parong’s account is false, the burden lies on them to release airport CCTV footage. Without transparency, the episode appears less like a bureaucratic misunderstanding and more like a deliberate provocation — at a time when both countries are attempting to stabilise relations after years of border tensions.
The larger question now is whether this is a calculated act by China to undermine the fragile diplomatic reset, or yet another example of Beijing’s unwillingness to let go of aggressive territorial posturing.
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