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4d ago

Dalai Lama Empowers Trust to Select His Reincarnation, Defying Beijing

He has declared that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust can recognize the next Dalai Lama, rejecting China’s claim under its 2007 reincarnation regulations.

Attendant monks help put a microphone around Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama's head during his 90th birthday celebrations at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, July 6, 2025.(AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
On his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama announced succession plans for after his death. But with China set to capitalize on the resulting vacuum, will the Tibetan nation-in-exile hold together without him?
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Overview

  • On his 90th birthday in Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama formalized succession guidelines through the Swiss-based Gaden Phodrang Trust and emphasized that no other entity holds authority to interfere.
  • Beijing maintains its right under the 2007 Measures for the Affairs of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas to approve future Dalai Lama incarnations and may appoint a rival figure to split Tibetan leadership.
  • India, the US and the Central Tibetan Administration have voiced support for the trust’s exclusive role, reflecting heightened international focus on Tibet during Sino-Indian border and human rights tensions.
  • Control of Tibet’s water sources such as the Mekong River and significant lithium deposits underpins China’s regional leverage and industrial ambitions.
  • Analysts warn that a Beijing-appointed contender could fracture Tibetan unity and allow China to further institutionalize control over Tibetan Buddhism and cultural identity.