'They Said Arunachal Is Part Of China, Apply For Chinese Passport': Victim Narrates Shocking Ordeal

Summary

A distressing account of an Indian citizen's travel ordeal at Shanghai airport, where they were unfairly detained by Chinese immigration officers during a layover. Despite having a valid Indian passport and prior confirmation from the Chinese embassy, the traveler faced humiliation and harassment, with officers questioning their citizenship and mocking them. The situation escalated over 18 hours, with no clear explanation or support. After reaching out to the Indian embassy, the traveler was eventually released. The experience highlighted severe mistreatment and confusion regarding visa requirements for short transit stays.

Takeaways

• 😀 The individual is an Indian citizen, residing in the UK for 14 years, traveling from London to Japan via a transit in Shanghai.
• 😀 Upon arrival at the Shanghai airport, the person was singled out by Chinese immigration officers and told their visa was not valid, though they were unaware of any issue.
• 😀 The officers mocked the traveler, claiming Arunachal Pradesh (a region in India) was part of China and not India, even suggesting they should apply for a Chinese passport.
• 😀 The traveler was unable to communicate with anyone due to language barriers, lack of internet, and restrictions on Wi-Fi at the airport.
• 😀 The person had previously transited through Shanghai with no issues, and had confirmed visa rules with the Chinese embassy in London before traveling.
• 😀 The traveler's attempts to resolve the situation with both Chinese immigration and the airline (China Eastern) were unsuccessful, with no clear answer or legal explanation provided.
• 😀 The traveler was held at the airport for about 18 hours, facing severe discomfort, humiliation, and harassment from both immigration officers and airline staff.
• 😀 Despite the traveler's valid Indian passport, which had been used to travel to 58 countries, Chinese officials argued it was not acceptable for entry or transit.
• 😀 The individual was not provided adequate rest facilities at the airport after a long flight, and was not allowed to leave the restricted area for food or to contact family.
• 😀 The situation only resolved after the traveler managed to contact a friend in London, who helped reach the Indian embassies in Shanghai and Beijing, and Indian officials arrived to assist.
• 😀 As a result of the incident, the traveler missed their connecting flight to Japan and faced significant delays in their travel plans, despite having all the correct documents.

Q & A

Why was the traveler stopped by Chinese immigration officers at the Shanghai airport?

She was stopped because the officers claimed her Indian passport was invalid due to her being from Arunachal Pradesh, which they asserted was not part of India.

What mocking or discriminatory comments were allegedly made by the immigration officers?

Officers reportedly mocked her origin by saying Arunachal Pradesh is China, not India, and told her she should apply for a Chinese passport.

How long had the traveler lived in the UK, and what was her travel route?

She had lived in the UK for about 14 years and was traveling from London Gatwick to Osaka, Japan, with a transit in Shanghai.

Had she previously transited through China without issues?

Yes, she mentioned that she had transited through Shanghai a year earlier without any problems.

What information had she received from the Chinese embassy in London before her earlier travels?

She was told that for a transit of 3 to 6 hours, no visa was required.

What challenges did she face when trying to contact her family or seek help during the incident?

She had no reliable Wi-Fi, and major apps like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook were inaccessible, limiting her ability to communicate.

How many immigration officers did she estimate interacting with?

She estimated interacting with about 10 immigration officers, along with several airline staff members.

What was the main reason she was denied boarding for her connecting flight?

Immigration officers alleged that her passport was not valid because of the region she was from, which they claimed did not belong to India.

How did she eventually get assistance?

She managed to contact a friend using a landline phone, who then helped her reach the Indian embassies in Shanghai and Beijing. Indian officials came to the airport and assisted her.

How long was she held at the airport before being allowed to leave China?

She went through an ordeal lasting about 18 hours before being allowed to depart.

What difficulties did she face regarding basic amenities during the ordeal?

She reportedly had limited access to food, was not allowed to leave the restricted area, and had no proper space to rest despite having just completed a long flight.

How did the incident affect her travel plans?

She missed her flight to Japan and disrupted plans she had carefully arranged, including securing a Japanese visa in advance.