Dalai Lama Announces Succession Plan Amidst China Tensions

The Dalai Lama has announced a succession plan for the Tibetan Buddhist institution, stating that his successor should be chosen without influence from the Chinese government. In a recorded statement, he said the responsibility of choosing the next Dalai Lama will rest with the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, and should be done in accordance with past tradition and without interference from outside authorities. The Dalai Lama's announcement is seen as a rebuke to China's attempts to control the selection of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, with China having passed a law in 2007 requiring the selection of the next Dalai Lama to take place within Chinese territory. The Tibetan government-in-exile has condemned China's efforts as an affront to religious freedom, and Amnesty International has described them as a "direct assault" on the right to freedom of religion.

The BBC visited the Kirti monastery in Aba, Sichuan province, China, a hub of Tibetan resistance, as the Dalai Lama turned 90. The monastery has been a center of protests and self-immolations against Chinese rule. A monk spoke to the BBC, expressing concerns about the Chinese government's intentions and the erosion of Tibetan faith and freedoms. The Chinese government has invested in the region but also increased surveillance and control, labeling the Dalai Lama a separatist. Tibetans face restrictions on practicing their faith, and new laws govern the education of Tibetan children, forcing them to attend state-run schools and learn Mandarin. The Dalai Lama has announced a succession plan, but Beijing has stated that the next Dalai Lama will be chosen and approved by the Chinese Communist Party. Tibetans are concerned about the future of their faith and identity under Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama has stated that he will have a successor, indicating that he will be reincarnated, contrary to previous speculation that he might be the last to hold the role. The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism said that his successor should be found and recognized according to traditional Buddhist practices, and that China should not be involved in the process. China's government has claimed authority over the selection of the next Dalai Lama, insisting that the reincarnated figure must be found within China's Tibetan areas. Many observers believe this could lead to rival Dalai Lamas being appointed by Beijing and by senior monks loyal to the current Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has entrusted the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, with the task of finding his reincarnation, and has stated that no one else has the authority to interfere in this matter.

The Dalai Lama has announced plans to reincarnate after his death, sparking controversy over how his successor will be chosen. The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has stated that the next Dalai Lama should be found in line with Buddhist traditions and born in the "free world", outside of China. However, China has long insisted that they should be the ones to select the next reincarnated figure, leading to concerns that there may be rival Dalai Lamas - one appointed by Beijing and one by senior monks loyal to the current Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has said that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit he founded, will oversee the search for his successor, and that no one else has the authority to interfere in this matter. China's foreign ministry has reiterated that the Dalai Lama's succession must be approved by China, setting the stage for a potential dispute over the next Dalai Lama.