Dalai Lama spurns Chinese role in choosing successor, Beijing lashes out

China has lashed out against Tibetan leader Dalai Lama over his comments on appointing his successor to protect the 600-year-old institution of Tibetan Buddhism, saying that only China has the right to appoint the next Dalai Lama.

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“The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, and other great Buddhist figures must be chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn and approved by the central government,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.

The 89-year-old Tenzin Gyatso had ruled out the legitimacy of any political imposition, stating ahead of his 90th birthday that a successor can only be appointed by the centuries-old traditional practices of Tibetan Buddhism, ruling out any say by China.