Pema Wang Thongdok, a British resident of Indian origin born in Arunachal Pradesh, recently delivered a b response to trolls on social media following her alleged harassment at Shanghai Airport in China.
New Delhi: Pema Wang Thongdok, the woman from Arunachal Pradesh who faced harassment in China, has now launched a scathing attack on social media trolls following the Shanghai Airport incident. She stated that every step taken by the Indian government is in the interest of all Indians, not just for her personal benefit. By giving a b reply to the trolls, she conveyed a message of unity to the entire nation.
In fact, Pema Wangjom Thongdok, of Indian origin, born in Arunachal Pradesh and currently residing in the UK, has alleged that Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Airport invalidated her Indian passport, stating that “Arunachal Pradesh is part of China.” During this time, she was detained for approximately 18 hours, mentally harassed, and prevented from traveling to Japan. Pema has described this entire incident as a direct assault on India's sovereignty.
What happened at Shanghai Airport?
Pema Wang Thongdok was traveling to Japan when she was stopped by Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai International Airport. She alleges that Chinese officials declared her Indian passport invalid, stating that Arunachal Pradesh is part of China. She reported that,
- She was held in a detention-like situation for approximately 18 hours.
- Despite having a valid Japanese visa, she was prevented from boarding her flight to Japan.
- Her passport was confiscated.
- Officials allegedly mocked her and even advised her to “apply for a Chinese passport.”
During this time, she was also denied food and other basic facilities. Pema has described this entire incident as a direct assault on India's sovereignty.
Indian Government Lodges Strong Protest
As soon as the incident came to light, the Indian government lodged a b diplomatic protest against China's stance. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated unequivocally—
'Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. This is a self-evident fact. China's repeated claims cannot alter this undeniable reality.'
India officially registered this protest in both Beijing and New Delhi.
Pema's Direct Message to Trolls
After the incident, while a large number of people came out in support of Pema on social media, some users also made negative comments about her. In response, Pema Wang Thongdok shared an emotional but firm post on X (formerly Twitter). She wrote,
'Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this diplomatic issue. I am not very active on social media as I hold a high-level full-time position in the financial services sector. I do not have time to respond to trolls.'
She also stated that only those who understand the truth matter to her, and she does not need to communicate with those who don't. Pema also clarified in her statement that she does not currently reside in India, and therefore, any action taken by the Indian government is not for her personal benefit, but for the respect and security of citizens residing in India, especially the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
