- People closely following the fortunes of Tibetan Buddhism would realize how the Dalai Lama has been a central focal point for the community over the decades, keeping the flock together despite encountering tremendous challenges from who else but China. The history of Tibetan Buddhism has an enviable ring is stating the obvious with the reverence for the institution of the Dalai Lama ensuring the community stays closely knit. And the present Dalai Lama has been a central figure for so many decades now that he holds the community together, even as China mounts a concerted pressure to impose itself by hoisting someone as his successor from its end. The intrigue surrounding the succession plan and successor is increasing even as the Dalai Lam turns 90 years.
PC: The Quint
- The moot point to ponder over here is who will succeed the current Tibetan spiritual head, and showing how the selection will work will have huge geopolitical issues. As reported in newspapers, the Dalai Lama is expected to reveal his plans soon about his successor. While it’s still not clear whether he will anoint a successor or simply reveal a framework to select the next Dalai Lama, the geopolitical implications are huge. Last reported, he has said his next successor will not be from China but elsewhere. Of course, the spiritual authority that the Dalai Lama commands in Tibetan life is great. China knows this, and therefore, has not tried to foist its own Dalai Lama on the Tibetan people all these years, even with the Dalai Lama in exile in India since 1959.
PC: CNN
- Indeed, Beijing is waiting for the right opportunity to capture the important Tibetan institution once the current Dalai Lama passes away. That opportunity will present itself if the traditional selection method is followed as per the principle of reincarnation. This is because once the Dalai reincarnation is identified, usually a young boy, there is approximately a 20-year gap when he is groomed to take over as the next Dalai Lama. China will certainly not wait that long and install its own Dalai Lama appointee at Lhasa’s Potala Palace. Interestingly, there’s an important weapon in the current Dalai Lama’s arsenal: legitimacy. Combined with his earlier statement that emanation could be a mode of succession of the successor, the chosen one could be within Dalai’s lifetime.
PC: NPR
- The Dalai has also been clear that his successor will be born in the free world outside China. Theoretically, it is possible that the next Dalai could be identified in India’s Tawang, where the sixth Dalai Lama was born. However, that could create another friction point in India-China relations with a Dalai Lama in each country. Meanwhile, if Xi Jinping is looking to extend his tenure at the helm of the Chinese party-state at the 2027 Chinese Communist Party Congress, this political confrontation over the Dalai Lama is precisely what he will relish to improve his macho reputation. With China’s control of Tibet, he holds the upper hand. India and the US may also coordinate on the Dalai selection process when the time comes. Tibet will be watched with renewed interest.
![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://kanigas.com/the-indian-leadership-will-face-a-piquant-situation-in-the-dalai-lama-succession-plan/&media=https://kanigas.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ap69630193947.jpeg&description=The complex geopolitical implications surrounding the succession of the current Dalai Lama, who is nearing 90 years old, as China seeks to install its own successor while the current Dalai Lama plans to choose someone from the "free world" outside China. This succession issue creates significant tensions between China, India, and the US, with potential for the next Dalai Lama to be identified in India's Tawang region, which could further strain India-China relations and provide Xi Jinping with political leverage.){kind=link}