Dalai Lama’s Succession Plans Stir Global Attention as China Watches Closely
The Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, is set to address an important three-day religious conference this week, just ahead of his 90th birthday. The event, which brings together over 100 Tibetan Buddhist figures from around the world, is expected to be a crucial moment as followers and global observers anticipate announcements regarding his potential successor. The issue is not only of spiritual significance to Tibetan Buddhists but also of immense political consequence, particularly in light of growing tensions with China, which continues to assert its authority over the reincarnation process.
The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, has long been viewed by Beijing as a separatist. China insists that it holds the authority to choose his successor, arguing that reincarnations of important religious figures must follow rules set by the state. However, the Dalai Lama has rejected this stance, declaring that the next Dalai Lama will be born outside of China and urging his followers to reject any selection made by Beijing. In doing so, he has reiterated his intent to safeguard the religious independence of Tibetan Buddhism and prevent the institution from becoming a political tool of the Chinese Communist Party.
Tibetan Buddhist doctrine holds that enlightened beings reincarnate to continue their spiritual mission. The Dalai Lama has previously indicated that he could reincarnate in India, where he currently lives in exile in Dharamshala, near the Himalayan foothills. His succession planning has taken on greater urgency due to China’s aggressive posture on the matter. Tibetan leaders have emphasized that the global community must hear directly from the Dalai Lama on this issue, especially as Beijing attempts to manipulate the reincarnation process for its political ends.
Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, underscored the gravity of the situation, accusing China of trying to seize control of the Dalai Lama’s spiritual lineage. She emphasized that the reincarnation should serve the survival of Tibetan culture, religion, and identity, and should not be used for political gain. Thupten Ngodup, Tibet’s chief state oracle, acknowledged the unusual nature of discussing reincarnation during a leader’s lifetime but said the situation warranted it due to China’s growing interference.
Beijing continues to dismiss the Dalai Lama’s spiritual and political legitimacy. In March, Chinese officials described him as a political exile with no authority to represent Tibetans. They have maintained that any dialogue with him must begin with his recognition of Tibet and Taiwan as inseparable parts of China—an offer that has been firmly rejected by the Tibetan government-in-exile. The religious conference, the first of its kind since 2019, is being watched globally, not only for spiritual direction but for the implications it may have on regional diplomacy and cultural sovereignty.
Among those attending the conference is actor Richard Gere, a longtime supporter of the Tibetan cause. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to deliver a half-hour speech during his birthday celebrations on July 6, and he will also attend a special prayer session organized by the Tibetan government-in-exile on July 5. India’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, along with other Indian officials, is also expected to participate, highlighting India’s support for the Tibetan community.
The Dalai Lama’s followers have been offering prayers for his long life, especially after he underwent knee surgery in the United States last year. In a December 2024 interview, he expressed confidence that he could live to be 110. His predecessor died at the age of 58, making longevity an important point of reassurance for his followers. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama has taken concrete steps to ensure continuity in leadership. In 2011, he relinquished his political responsibilities, ending a 368-year tradition of combining spiritual and temporal leadership, and transferred power to a democratically elected administration.
This forward-thinking move was part of his broader effort to prepare Tibetans for a future without him. His foundation, the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, established in 2015, has since taken on key responsibilities in succession planning and institutional continuity. Senior aides and officers of the foundation are expected to lead efforts to identify the next reincarnation after his passing. Teykhang noted that His Holiness has been gradually preparing Tibetans for the eventual transition, encouraging them to act as if he were no longer physically present.
The issue of the Dalai Lama’s succession continues to be one of the most complex and sensitive geopolitical challenges in Asia. It represents not just a spiritual transition but a broader contest between religious freedom and authoritarian control. China’s attempts to insert itself into the reincarnation process have been widely criticized as an encroachment on religious autonomy. As the Dalai Lama prepares to address his followers and the world, the future of Tibetan Buddhism and its leadership remains a pressing global concern, echoing far beyond the monasteries of Dharamshala.