Beijing has the ‘Final Say’ on Dalai Lama reincarnation, says senior Chinese official

9 months ago

Tsering Dhundup

DHARAMSHALA, Aug 6: A senior Chinese-appointed official in Tibet has sparked renewed controversy by asserting Beijing’s exclusive authority over the selection of the next Dalai Lama, directly rejecting long-standing Tibetan religious traditions and the stated position of the current Dalai Lama.

Karma Tsetan (Ch: Gama Cedain), chairman of the so-called Xizang Autonomous Region, declared that the search for the 15th Dalai Lama will be conducted solely within China and must be approved by the Chinese central government. “The central government has the indisputable final say,” Tsetan said at a press conference organised by the State Council Information Office, according to Chinese state media, China Daily on Tuesday.

Karma Tsetan further claimed that “reincarnation has never been solely determined by the D...

Original Article