Overview

• The Dalai Lama, nearing his 90th birthday, announced in his new book that his successor will reincarnate in the 'free world,' outside of Chinese-controlled regions.
• He urged followers to reject any successor chosen by the Chinese government, which claims authority over the reincarnation process per its laws.
• The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, continuing to advocate for Tibetan autonomy and cultural preservation.
• China maintains that the reincarnation must follow its legal framework, citing historical conventions and asserting control over Tibetan Buddhism.
• The Dalai Lama's new book, 'Voice for the Voiceless,' recounts his decades-long struggle with China and calls for global solidarity to protect Tibetan identity and freedoms.