India Backs Dalai Lama’s Position On Successor, Contradicting China

July 4, 2025: In a rare and pointed statement, Indian Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has declared that only the Dalai Lama and the institution he leads have the authority to determine his successor—directly contradicting China’s longstanding claim over the spiritual lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Speaking ahead of the Tibetan leader’s 90th birthday celebrations in Dharamshala, Rijiju emphasized that the decision of the next Dalai Lama lies solely with His Holiness and the Gaden Phodrang Trust.

“No one has the right to interfere or decide who the successor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be,” Rijiju told reporters on Thursday. “Only he or his institution has the authority to make that decision. His followers believe that deeply.”

The Dalai Lama reiterated this week that his reincarnation will take place outside China and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he established, will identify his successor. Beijing, however, insists it holds the right to approve the next Dalai Lama—a claim it bases on historical precedent from imperial China.

Rijiju, a practicing Buddhist, will join other Indian officials at the upcoming birthday events. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not officially commented on the matter, Rijiju’s remarks reflect growing Indian assertiveness regarding Tibetan autonomy amid continued tensions with China.

India hosts tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees and supports their freedom to practice religion and pursue education. The Dalai Lama’s residence in India is viewed by analysts as a source of diplomatic leverage for New Delhi in its complex relationship with Beijing.

India-China relations have been strained since a violent border clash in 2020, though both sides have gradually resumed dialogue in recent months.