India has strongly opposed China’s assertion that Beijing must approve the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, stressing that the authority solely lies with the Tibetan spiritual leader and the Gaden Phodrang Trust. The diplomatic rebuttal comes amid renewed tensions over the sensitive issue of the Dalai Lama’s succession.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, speaking during a visit to Dharamshala for events marking the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, said, “The position of the Dalai Lama is of utmost importance, not just for Tibetans but for all his followers across the world. The right to decide on his successor rests solely with the Dalai Lama himself.”
Rijiju and JD(U) leader Lallan Singh were attending the celebrations as official representatives of the Indian government. Rijiju further noted that the occasion was “purely a religious one.”
Reaffirming the autonomy of the spiritual process, the Dalai Lama’s office issued a statement asserting that the Gaden Phodrang Trust—his official institution—holds exclusive authority over the selection of his successor. “The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognised has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement, which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust,” the statement emphasized.
China Insists on Legal Oversight, Tibetans Fear Political Exploitation
China, however, has reiterated its long-standing position that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese laws. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, “The Dalai Lama’s succession must comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as religious rituals and historical conventions.”
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This insistence from Beijing has reignited fears among the Tibetan diaspora, many of whom suspect that China could attempt to install a state-approved successor to consolidate its control over the region.
The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Lhasa in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has long warned about the risk of political manipulation in the name of tradition. Even after he relinquished political authority in 2011 to an elected Tibetan government-in-exile, he warned that the 600-year-old institution of the Dalai Lama was at “obvious risk” of being exploited for geopolitical purposes.
While Beijing labels him a separatist, the Dalai Lama remains a global symbol of non-violence and cultural preservation. The latest assertion by India signals its continued support for the spiritual leader and the legitimacy of the Tibetan cause amid ongoing geopolitical strains with China.
