The Dalai Lama announced that his foundation will solely be responsible for selecting his successor, dismissing Beijing's claims of authority. He emphasized no external interference is permitted in this significant decision. This declaration sets the stage for potential conflict with Chinese authorities, who insist on government approval for the next Dalai Lama. The Chinese Communist Party has intensified control over Tibetan Buddhism and aims to assimilate the Tibetan population, paralleling similar tactics used against other minorities. The Dalai Lama's stance may provoke responses from Beijing, further complicating the situation around Tibet.
"No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter," the Dalai Lama said Wednesday at a gathering of Tibetan leaders in the Indian city of Dharamshala in the run-up to his 90th birthday on Sunday.
"China is likely to dispute the Dalai Lama's decision in any way that it can, and that will mean forcing Tibetans inside Tibet to denounce it and pressurizing foreign governments to prevent Tibetan exiles from carrying out a future search for the reincarnation," he said.
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