Tibetan Official Says China Will Decide Next Dalai Lama
A senior Tibetan official appointed by China has said that the Chinese government will have the final say in identifying the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. The statement was made on August 5, 2025, during a press event and has drawn immediate international attention.
Current Dalai Lama Disagrees
The 14th Dalai Lama, currently living in exile in India, has already stated that his Gaden Phodrang Trust will manage the process of selecting his reincarnation. He has also said that his successor will be born outside China, to ensure the process remains free of political interference.
China’s Historic Position on Reincarnations
The Chinese government has long asserted that it must approve the reincarnation of high-ranking Tibetan lamas. Officials have cited the use of the Golden Urn system, a Qing dynasty ritual that Beijing claims legitimizes religious appointments. In 1995, China appointed its own Panchen Lama after detaining the boy recognized by the current Dalai Lama—a move widely criticized by human rights groups.
Global Concerns Over Religious Freedom
Human rights organizations have condemned China’s attempts to control spiritual succession, calling it a violation of religious and cultural freedom. Many Tibetan Buddhists argue that only spiritual authorities, not governments, can make decisions about reincarnations.
Broader Political Context
The statement comes as part of China’s broader efforts to assert control over Tibet and its religious institutions. Tibetan leaders in exile maintain that reincarnation is a purely spiritual process that must remain independent of state authority, regardless of who makes such claims on behalf of the Chinese state.
