China says Dalai Lama has no say in reincarnation tradition, asserts Beijing’s control over succession

As the Tibetan spiritual leader turns 90, China reignites controversy, declaring only Beijing can approve his successor despite Dalai Lama's affirmation of the tradition's continuity.

Amid global celebrations marking the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, China has reignited the long-simmering controversy over his spiritual succession, asserting that the Tibetan leader has no authority over the centuries-old reincarnation system that governs the selection of his successor.

Speaking in New Delhi on July 6, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong categorically stated that the Dalai Lama cannot unilaterally decide the fate of the Tibetan Buddhist reincarnation tradition. “The reincarnation system of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism has existed for over 700 years,” Xu said in a post on X. “Currently, there are more than 1,000 such systems in Tibet and Tibetan-inhabited areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, and Qinghai.”

While acknowledging the Dalai Lama’s role within the Tibetan religious hierarchy, Feihong emphasized that “he has no authority to decide whether the system will continue or be stopped.”

The remarks directly counter recent comments by India’s Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, a practicing Buddhist, who asserted that only the current Dalai Lama and traditional Tibetan Buddhist norms can determine his successor. “The Dalai Lama is a defining spiritual leader for Buddhists. The decision about his reincarnation should follow tradition and be made by him alone. No one else has the right,” Rijiju said on July 2.

The verbal sparring follows a recent public assurance from the Dalai Lama himself, who declared that the lineage would continue, and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust — the institution representing the Dalai Lama — holds the authority to recognize his future reincarnation.

China, however, remains firm on state oversight of religious matters. Responding to the Dalai Lama’s declaration, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in a statement reiterated that any reincarnation must follow a government-controlled protocol, including the controversial “drawing lots from a golden urn” system and final approval from Beijing.

While China claims it respects religious freedom, it has long enforced strict controls over religious practices in Tibet, viewing the reincarnation issue as a key lever to assert greater control over the region's spiritual and political dynamics.

The escalating rhetoric comes at a sensitive moment, with fears that Beijing may attempt to install its own successor to the Dalai Lama — a move likely to deepen tensions with Tibetan exiles and Buddhist communities worldwide.