China Condemns Dalai Lama’s Claims on Successor, Insists Beijing Will Decide

China rejects the Dalai Lama’s statement that his successor will be born outside its territory, insisting that Beijing will determine the next Tibetan Buddhist leader.

March 11, 2025: BEIJING: China has strongly criticized the Dalai Lama’s latest remarks regarding the reincarnation of his successor, dismissing his claims that the next spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will be born in a “free world” outside China. The response came after the Tibetan leader’s new book, Voice for the Voiceless, reaffirmed his stance on the matter.

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🔍 China’s Official Response

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, China’s foreign ministry declared:

“He has no right to represent the people of Tibet. Reincarnations of the living Buddha, including the Dalai Lama, should abide by the regulations of the country.”

China insists that the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism has historically been supervised by the central government. Officials reaffirmed Beijing’s position that the Chinese authorities—not the Dalai Lama—will decide his successor.

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The Chinese spokesperson further labeled the Dalai Lama as a “political exile”, accusing him of engaging in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion.

📖 The Dalai Lama’s Stance

In contrast, the 14th Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since 1959 after fleeing Tibet, maintains that any successor chosen by China will not be respected.

Excerpts from his book indicate that he firmly believes the Tibetan people’s struggle for autonomy cannot be suppressed forever.

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“The right of the Tibetan people to be the custodians of their own homeland cannot be indefinitely denied, nor can their aspiration for freedom be crushed forever through oppression,” he wrote.

“If you keep people permanently unhappy, you cannot have a stable society.”

The Dalai Lama has previously suggested that his reincarnation could emerge in India, where he resides, or in another free nation rather than within China-controlled Tibet.

🚨 Tensions Over Tibetan Leadership

The battle over the next Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is seen as a major flashpoint between China and Tibetans in exile. Chinese authorities fear losing control over Tibetan Buddhism, as a leader born outside of China would not be under Beijing’s influence.

This ongoing dispute raises concerns over Tibetan autonomy, religious freedom, and human rights, particularly as China tightens its grip on Tibet.

With global attention on the issue, the world awaits how Beijing will handle the Dalai Lama’s succession—and how Tibetans and the international community will respond.

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China vs Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lama Successor, China Tibet Conflict, Tibetan Religious Freedom, Beijing on Dalai Lama, Tibetan Exile, Human Rights in Tibet, China Religious Policies