By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-17 01:09:41 | Updated at 2025-03-17 06:57:40
5 hours ago
The Dalai Lama has been in exile in India since the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) crushed an armed uprising in Tibet in 1959.
As he approaches his 90th birthday in July, the controversy over his successor is expected to reignite, with possible implications for social stability and China’s relations with the United States and India.
According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition the Dalai Lama will be reincarnated and he has repeatedly said he would resolve the issue this year.
In a new book published this month he hinted that his successor would be born outside China – a proposal swiftly rejected by Beijing which described him as “a political exile who uses religion as a cover for anti-China secessionist activities and has no right to represent the Tibetan people”.
Here is the background to the controversy and the likely implications for the future.
Who is the Dalai Lama and why is his reincarnation so important?
According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama is the political and spiritual leader of Tibet. When a living Buddha such as the Dalai Lama dies, he will be reincarnated as a young child, who must be found through a series of searches and rituals.
