Tibet vs China: India backs ‘established convention’ in choosing next Dalai Lama

India on Thursday backed the traditional process for selecting the next Dalai Lama, a day after the 14th Dalai Lama declared that his reincarnation would be determined solely by established Tibetan Buddhist conventions and his appointed trust.

On Wednesday, the 14th Dalai Lama, who turns 90 this Sunday, stated that the centuries-old institution of the Dalai Lama would continue and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust– a non-profit body set up by his office in 2011– would have the “sole authority” to recognise his reincarnation.

“Reincarnation has to be decided by the established conventions and the desire of the present Dalai Lama. No one else has the right to decide on the next Dalai Lama. It is the most important defining institution for all the Tibetans and all those who follow the Nalanda tradition of Buddhism,” Rijiju, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, said.

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India also announced that Union Ministers Rijiju and Rajeev Ranjan Singh would attend the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations, further signalling New Delhi’s support.

China responded swiftly and critically. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that any reincarnation of the Tibetan spiritual leader must comply with what it calls “domestic recognition” and receive official approval. “The Dalai Lama’s reincarnation must follow the principles of domestic recognition, the ‘golden urn’ process, and approval by the central government, in line with religious traditions and laws,” Mao said.

The Dalai Lama, in remarks that appeared aimed at countering Beijing’s assertions, said: “I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation. No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter.”

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Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the elected leader of the Central Tibetan Administration based in McLeodganj, India, reaffirmed the Dalai Lama’s stance, stating that among the three institutions associated with the spiritual leader, only the Gaden Phodrang Trust would oversee the reincarnation process.

“There are three registered institutions that are related to His Holiness: the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which is a registered body in India and operates from the office of His Holiness; the Dalai Lama Trust, which is a non-profit organisation; and the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, which is registered in Zurich. Of these, it is the Gaden Phodrang Trust which shall be responsible for finding the reincarnation,” Tsering said.

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the soul of a senior monk is believed to be reborn in a new body after death, a process known as reincarnation that has guided the selection of Dalai Lamas for centuries.