His Holiness Dalai Lama, who escaped from Chinese-annexed Tibet in March 1959 and took refuge in India, is now 88 and his successor will be chosen soon. In order to counter the Buddhist spiritual leader’s vast global influence, China said on Friday that this successor “must be looked for within the country” and should have the approval of the central government in Beijing. This was stated in a white paper unveiled by the government.
In the paper, China also projected Tibet as the gateway to South Asia by highlighting the infrastructure development close to the Indian border.
All “reincarnated Tibetan living Buddhas, including Dalai Lamas and Panchen Rinpoches, must be looked for within the country, decided through the practice of lot-drawing from the golden urn, and receive approval from the central government”, said the white paper.
China, which refers to Tibet as “Xizang”, is increasingly anxious as the octogenarian Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in Dharamsala in India, will take the lead in appointing his successor, which could have a profound spiritual impact in the Himalayan region as his legacy is ingrained in the minds of Tibetan masses.
Though Beijing asserts that the Dalai Lama’s successor needs its approval, observers say that it remains concerned as the present Panchen Lama, the number two spiritual leader who was appointed by it after unseating the boy nominated by the Dalai Lama, has not gained much traction in Tibet.
The white paper, titled ‘Communist Party of China (CPC) Policies on the Governance of Xizang (Tibet) in the New Era: Approach and Achievements’, also highlighted the crackdown to combat separatism in Tibet.
Protests by Tibetans against the Chinese military invasion of Tibet in October 1950 and the subsequent annexation of Tibet have never stopped. Tibetan refugees in India mostly live in and around Dharamshala town, in the north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, though many young Tibetans also work in nearby Delhi-NCR.
During all his years away from Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama has striven for greater autonomy for his homeland. In July 2022, speaking to the media in Jammu, he said, “Some Chinese hardliners consider me a separatist and a reactionary and always criticise me. But now, more Chinese are realising that the Dalai Lama is not seeking independence and only wishing [for] China [to give] meaningful autonomy [to Tibet] and [ensure] preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture.”
However, the Chinese white paper said, “The fight against infiltration, subversion and secession continues… Xizang, adopts a proactive approach to combat secessionism.”
Appearing to criticise the Dalai Lama, the Beijing document said: “The reactionary nature of the Dalai Group has been exposed and denounced, and the regional government relies closely on the people of all ethnicities to resist all forms.”
It added: “It is now deeply rooted in the people’s minds across the region that unity and stability are a blessing, while division and unrest lead to disaster. They are ever more determined to safeguard the country’s unity, national sovereignty, and ethnic solidarity.”
China has also expressed its strong opposition to the United States appointing a Special Co-ordinator for Tibet Issues and criticised Washington’s assertion that Beijing should not interfere in the selection of the Dalai Lama’s successor.
On the present Dalai Lama, who is 14th in the long line of succession, China reiterated that he was “by no means just a religious figure, but rather a political exile, who has long been engaging in anti-China separatist activities, and attempting to split Tibet from China”.
The white paper denied any crackdown on Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet, saying that China fully guaranteed the freedom of religious belief and promoted Tibetan language along with Mandarin.
“Religious activities are carried out in an orderly manner. The region today hosts over 1,700 sites for Tibetan Buddhism activities, approximately 46,000 Buddhist monks and nuns, four mosques, about 12,000 native Muslims, and one Catholic church with over 700 believers,” the paper said.
The document highlighted infrastructure in Tibet and the areas bordering the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims is part of Southern Tibet. China has built high-speed trains in Tibet near the Indian border areas, which enables it to speedily move troops.
“Efforts have been made to develop border areas and improve people’s lives there. Plans and specific programmes for developing villages and towns have been formulated,” the paper said.
It projected that Tibet was gearing up to become a gateway to South Asia, with rail and road connectivity through Nepal. The region of Tibet was transforming itself into a vital channel for China’s increasing opening up towards South Asia, it said.
— Additional text by CtoI News Desk
Dalai Lama to attend international conference on Buddhism in Mumbai
The Dalai Lama and the prime ministers of Sri Lanka and Thailand would be attending Dhamma Diksha, an international conference on Buddhism to be held in Mumbai next month, said Union minister Ramdas Athawale yesterday.
The Dhamma Diksha conference will be held at the sports stadium in Worli on December 15 and the Mahalaxmi Race Course on December 16.
Besides the Dalai Lama, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Bhutan’s Princess Kesang Wangmo Wangchuk and Buddhist leaders from Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries will attend the event.