India has lodged a strong diplomatic protest after a woman from Arunachal Pradesh was stopped and questioned at a Chinese airport despite holding valid travel documents. The incident, which Indian officials described as “unacceptable and unjustified,” once again highlights Beijing’s pattern of targeting Indian citizens from the northeastern state as part of its territorial propaganda.

China routinely disputes India’s sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh and often engages in discriminatory practices such as issuing stapled visas, denying entry, or subjecting Indian citizens from the state to additional scrutiny. New Delhi has repeatedly condemned such actions, calling them deliberate attempts to undermine India’s territorial integrity.

In this latest case, the woman was reportedly detained for an extended period and interrogated about her place of birth, even though her Indian passport clearly established her nationality. India responded by issuing a strong demarche in Beijing and New Delhi, reminding China that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.

Officials stated that China’s behaviour reflects a growing pattern of aggressive posturing from border incursions to diplomatic provocations—aimed at challenging India’s sovereignty. Analysts note that Beijing frequently resorts to such tactics to push its expansionist claims, even when they violate established norms of international travel and diplomatic courtesy.

India has demanded assurances that such incidents will not be repeated and reiterated that discrimination against Indian nationals will be met with firm diplomatic pushback. The episode is expected to add further strain to already tense bilateral relations, which remain unsettled due to China’s military buildup along the Line of Actual Control and its refusal to restore pre-2020 border positions. 

This image is taken from The Hindu