China Has No Role in Choosing Next Dalai Lama, Says Head of Tawang Monastery

Thwarting any attempt by China in choosing the next Dalai Lama, the head of Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh, Gyangbung Rinpoche, Monday (October 25) said China has no role in it and the next Dalai Lama will only be chosen by the current Dalai Lama and his followers.

“The Chinese government does not believe in religion. How can a government that does not believe in religion decide the next Dalai Lama. The succession plan is a matter of religion and faith; it is not a political issue”, PTI quoted Gyangbung Rinpoche.

He further added “China does not have any right to even get involved in the process of choosing the next Dalai Lama. Only the current Dalai Lama and his followers have the right to decide on the issue.”

He also cautioned India against Beijing's "policy of expansionism”.

Beijing is showing growing assertiveness with India’s border recently. It has been claiming areas in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

“It is important to counter China's growing assertiveness. It is necessary for India to keep a strict vigil over the border (with China)”, he said.

Tawang's monastery, at India’s border with China, is the second largest monastery in the world after the Potala Palace in Tibet's Lhasa and is 350-year-old.

China has been using brutal force to control Tibet. After the failed uprising of 1959, the 14th & current Dalai Lama fled to India and established the Tibetan government in Exile in Dharamshala.

“It will be difficult for China to win the hearts of the people of Tibet. China is tightly controlling Tibet. The authorities do not even allow people from outside to meet Tibetans. There are so many restrictions. It is important that countries like India support the Tibetans," Rinpoche told news agency PTI.

China does not recognise any Tibetan government and in 2010, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that it would not recognise any Dalai Lama who is chosen without their involvement.

Chinese Communist Party considers Dalai Lama ‘separatist’.  Since 2010, the Chinese government officials and the Dalai Lama or his representatives have not met for formal negotiations.