China declared on Wednesday that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama “must be approved by the central government,” a direct response to Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, who stated he would have a successor after his death.
The current Dalai Lama, who turns 90 this week, has lived in exile in India since 1959, when Chinese forces suppressed an uprising in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital.
He confirmed on Wednesday that the 600-year-old institution would continue, easing concerns among many Tibetans about the future without a central spiritual and political figure.
However, China, which views the current Dalai Lama as a separatist, quickly countered, asserting Beijing’s ultimate authority over the succession.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated at a regular news briefing that “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, and other great Buddhist figures must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn and approved by the central government.” She referenced a method introduced by an 18th-century Qing dynasty emperor.
Mao also emphasised that while “the Chinese government implements a policy of freedom of religious belief,” there are “regulations on religious affairs and methods for managing the reincarnation of Tibetan living Buddhas.”
She added that Beijing’s policy of making religion “more Chinese” is not a restriction but rather about “adapting to the country’s social environment and cultural traditions,” concluding that “Tibetan Buddhism was born in China and carries Chinese characteristics.”
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, was 23 when he fled Lhasa. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has since become a global icon for the Tibetan people’s efforts to preserve their cultural identity, as well as a powerful symbol of peace and non-violence.
