Milan, July 2 (LaPresse) – The successor to the Dalai Lama must be approved by China’s central government. This was stated by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a press briefing, in response to remarks made by the current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, on his 90th birthday. The Tibetan spiritual leader said he will not be the last Dalai Lama and that the Buddhist institution will continue after his death. His comments end years of speculation following earlier suggestions that he might be the last person to hold the title.
Tenzin Gyatso also emphasized that his successor must be recognized “in accordance with tradition,” signaling that China should stay out of the selection process. While Tibetan Buddhists revere the Dalai Lama as a deity, the Chinese government views him as a separatist. The Dalai Lama has stated that his successor will likely be born outside of China, whereas Beijing insists it has exclusive authority to identify his reincarnation. “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must comply with internal Chinese procedures and receive approval from the central government,” Mao Ning said, adding that the process must “follow religious rituals, historical customs, and comply with national laws and regulations.”
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