India Backs Dalai Lama's Authority on Reincarnation, China Responds with Sharp Rebuttal
New Delhi, July 3, 2025 — In a rare and potentially consequential move, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has publicly backed the Dalai Lama’s exclusive right to determine his reincarnation, rejecting China’s assertion that any successor must receive Beijing’s approval.
The comments come just days ahead of the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations in Dharamshala, where Rijiju and fellow Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh will represent the Indian government.
Rijiju: “Only Dalai Lama and His Conventions Can Decide”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rijiju — India’s Minority Affairs Minister and a practicing Buddhist from Arunachal Pradesh — said:
“The Dalai Lama is the most important and defining institution for Buddhists. His reincarnation is to be decided by established convention and his own wishes. Nobody else has the right to decide this.”
This is the first time an Indian government official has publicly taken a stand on the issue of the Dalai Lama’s succession, which has long been a diplomatic tightrope in India-China relations.
Dalai Lama Affirms Gaden Phodrang Trust Will Decide Successor
A day earlier, in a video message from Dharamshala, the Dalai Lama declared that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust — a body associated with his office — has the sole authority to decide on his reincarnation.
“I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation. No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” he said.
The spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism added that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, dismissing concerns that the lineage could end with him.
China Insists on State Control Over Reincarnation Process
China responded swiftly, asserting its longstanding claim over the reincarnation process. Xu Feihong, Chinese ambassador to India, posted on social media that any successor must be chosen through the “Golden Urn” lottery system under Chinese law.
“The next Dalai Lama must be selected through the Golden Urn procedure, with search and identification conducted in China and central government approval,” Xu wrote.
He cited historical conventions, religious rituals, and “regulations for the management of reincarnations of living Buddhas” as the legal framework under which the Chinese government operates.
Xu added that while the current Dalai Lama was exempted from the Golden Urn draw, his successor will not be.
India’s Calculated Silence – Until Now
Until Rijiju's statement, India had never commented officially on the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation issue. While New Delhi has hosted the Tibetan leader and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for over six decades, it has treaded carefully, recognizing the Dalai Lama only as a “revered religious leader” and avoiding formal acknowledgment of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Rijiju’s endorsement marks a significant moment. It remains unclear whether it represents a shift in India's foreign policy or a minister’s personal view.
A Tense History: India, China, and the Tibetan Question
The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama is a sensitive subject for both geopolitics and religious legitimacy. China views the Dalai Lama as a separatist and seeks to control the succession process to prevent any movement that could challenge Beijing’s sovereignty over Tibet.
India, meanwhile, has used strategic ambiguity— allowing the Dalai Lama religious freedom without formally opposing China’s position.
Former Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale noted in a 2024 research paper that India has historically avoided endorsing Chinese-appointed religious figures, such as Ugyen Thinley Dorje, one of the claimants to the 17th Karmapa title. Dorje, backed by China, later fled to India and now resides abroad.
Gokhale warned that disagreement over the reincarnation process could trigger shifts in China’s foreign policy posture, potentially worsening already strained ties.
What Happens Next?
The 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama on July 6 could become a flashpoint for regional diplomacy. With Rijiju attending the celebrations as an official representative of India and now having publicly rejected China’s authority over the succession issue, Beijing’s response will be closely watched.
Key questions that now arise for India include:
- Will New Delhi formalize this position?
- How will it respond if the next Dalai Lama is born in India?
- Can it avoid diplomatic fallout with Beijing over religious sovereignty?
Conclusion
Kiren Rijiju’s remarks have brought the complex and deeply political issue of the Dalai Lama’s succession into the diplomatic spotlight. While the statement may reflect India’s growing assertiveness in defending religious freedoms, it also risks escalation with China, which is unlikely to cede control over a figure as symbolically powerful as the next Dalai Lama.
For now, all eyes turn to Dharamshala on July 6, where celebrations of spiritual legacy may also echo with the politics of succession and sovereignty.