HomeNationIndia Rejects China’s Claim Over Dalai Lama’s Successor, Says Only Dalai Lama...

India Rejects China’s Claim Over Dalai Lama’s Successor, Says Only Dalai Lama Can Decide

Dharamshala: India on Thursday issued a strong rebuttal to China’s repeated assertions that Beijing must approve the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, firmly stating that only the Tibetan spiritual leader holds the authority to determine his successor.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who is currently in Dharamshala to attend events marking the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, declared: “The Dalai Lama holds a deeply significant position not only for Tibetans but also for millions of his followers around the world. The decision regarding his successor lies solely with the Dalai Lama.”

Rijiju’s remarks came shortly after the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the official office of the Dalai Lama, reiterated that the process of selecting the 15th Dalai Lama rests exclusively with its members. A statement from the trust emphasized that the guidelines for choosing a future Dalai Lama were already established in a declaration made on September 24, 2011, affirming full spiritual and institutional autonomy in this matter.

“This is purely a religious occasion,” Rijiju said, downplaying the political implications during the celebrations in Dharamshala, where he is joined by Janata Dal (United) leader Lallan Singh, representing the Indian government.

China, however, once again staked its claim, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stating that any reincarnation “must comply with Chinese laws and regulations, as well as religious rituals and historical conventions.” Beijing insists that the next Dalai Lama must be born and recognized within Chinese territory and under its supervision — a position India has now explicitly rejected.

The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, remains a symbol of non-violence, compassion, and Tibetan identity. Despite China branding him a separatist, he is revered globally and is seen as the spiritual heart of the Tibetan struggle.

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