China Asserts Control Over Dalai Lama Succession, Citing Centuries-Old Tradition

NDC DESK

Beijing, July 3 — China reaffirmed on Wednesday that any successor to the current Dalai Lama must be approved by the central government, following comments by the Tibetan spiritual leader indicating that the tradition of reincarnation will continue after his death.

Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, told followers that his reincarnation would take place, providing reassurance to Tibetans concerned about the future of their spiritual and cultural identity.

The 89-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate has long advocated for Tibetan autonomy and has become an enduring symbol of non-violence and cultural preservation. His comments this week emphasized the continuation of the 600-year-old lineage of the Dalai Lama, a position of immense religious significance for Tibetan Buddhists.

In response, China’s foreign ministry reiterated its long-standing position that the reincarnation of Tibetan religious figures must be managed under Chinese state authority.

“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,” said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a regular press briefing. The “golden urn” method was introduced in the 18th century under the Qing dynasty as a means of controlling the selection of high-ranking lamas.

Mao also defended Beijing’s broader religious policy, saying that while China guarantees freedom of religious belief, it also maintains regulatory oversight of religious affairs—including reincarnation processes. “The survival and development of any religion lies in adapting to the country’s social environment and cultural traditions,” she added.

The central government views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and maintains firm control over religious institutions in Tibet, which remains a politically sensitive region roughly the size of South Africa.

The question of who will succeed the current Dalai Lama has become increasingly contentious, with Tibetan exiles vowing to resist any successor chosen by Beijing, insisting that the next spiritual leader must be identified through traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices—free from Chinese interference.

As tensions persist, observers note that the issue of succession could further strain relations between China and global supporters of the Tibetan cause.