NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — China has again claimed that Arunachal Pradesh belongs to its territory, sparking fresh tension between the two countries. The statement came on Tuesday from China’s Foreign Ministry, shortly after reports surfaced that Chinese officials detained and harassed an Indian woman from Arunachal Pradesh at Shanghai airport.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing has never recognized Arunachal Pradesh as part of India. She repeated China’s long-standing claim that the region is actually “Zangnan,” or southern Tibet.
Mao said, “Zangnan is China’s territory. The Chinese side has never recognized the so-called ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ illegally set up by India.” Her comments underline China’s continued use of what many analysts call “cartographic warfare,” where Beijing assigns Chinese names to territories it claims. China has used similar tactics in other regions, such as referring to Tibet as “Xizang” and calling the Senkaku Islands by Chinese names.
India has consistently rejected China’s position. New Delhi maintains that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.
The latest diplomatic flare-up comes as India protests the treatment of an Arunachal Pradesh woman who was detained for 18 hours at Shanghai airport. The incident happened on November 21 and has triggered sharp reactions in India.
Prema Thongdok, a financial consultant based in London, said Chinese officials harassed her during the detention. She told The Hindu that immigration and airline staff at the airport mocked her, acted rudely, and insisted that she was in “Chinese territory” because she was from Arunachal Pradesh.
Thongdok said officials told her to “apply for a Chinese passport” and withheld her Indian passport. She added that she received no food, no assistance, and no proper communication during the long detention.
China defended its actions. Officials said they handled the matter according to Chinese law. But Thongdok’s account and the reaction from Indian officials suggest otherwise.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi took strong note of the incident. Official sources said India issued a demarche to China. A demarche is a formal diplomatic protest.
Indian officials said such actions create unnecessary friction at a time when both countries are trying to stabilize relations. India and China have held several rounds of talks to ease ongoing border tensions, especially after the 2020 clashes in eastern Ladakh.
MEA sources said these incidents damage trust and slow progress. They added that the detention of an Indian citizen over territorial claims is unacceptable.
The border dispute over Arunachal Pradesh remains one of the biggest issues in strained ties between India and China. India administers the region, and people living there identify as Indian citizens. China’s repeated claims often spark political and diplomatic pushback from New Delhi.
This week’s developments add a new layer of tension. China’s public restatement of its claim, combined with the treatment of an Arunachal woman, has fueled anger among Indian citizens and officials.
India has said that China’s attempts to rename places or create narratives around territorial claims do not change the facts on the ground. Analysts say China’s statements are part of a long-term strategy.
For now, New Delhi expects China to address the concerns raised in the demarche. India also wants China to ensure that Indian travelers, including those from Arunachal Pradesh, are treated fairly and lawfully.
