Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Dec. 11: Widely known as the fake Panchen Lama, Gyalsten (Ch. Gyaincain) Norbu asserted that all reincarnation processes must comply with Chinese laws and receive approval from Beijing, an implicit reference to the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, during an official symposium in Shigatse on Monday.
He further claimed that the identification of reincarnated “living Buddhas” must take place within China and be sanctioned by the central government, insisting that the process “must be done without any interference or control from organisations or individuals outside the country.” Gyalsten Norbu also reiterated that the selection of reincarnated “living Buddhas” must strictly follow Chinese law and uphold the leadership of the ruling Communist Party.
The remarks come amid intensifying Chinese government efforts to assert control over the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Beijing continues to claim exclusive authority over identifying the next Dalai Lama, in direct contradiction to centuries-old Tibetan religious practices and the clearly stated position of the current Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan spiritual leader has made it clear that his successor will be born in a “free country”, away from Chinese political interference. In a landmark message on July 2 at the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference in Dharamshala, he reaffirmed that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust—the institution he established—holds the exclusive authority to recognise his reincarnation.
“I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” he said in a pre-recorded video address to more than 180 Tibetan Buddhist leaders. “The sole authority regarding my reincarnation lies with the Gaden Phodrang Trust.”
He reiterated this position again during his 90th birthday celebrations on July 6, stressing that any reincarnation proclaimed by the Chinese government will not be recognised by Tibetan Buddhists.
The democratically elected leader of the exile Tibetan government, known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), President Penpa Tsering, has also firmly rejected China’s attempts to interfere in the Dalai Lama’s succession. He has repeatedly affirmed that the recognition of His Holiness’s reincarnation belongs solely to Tibetan Buddhist tradition and that the final decision rests with the Dalai Lama himself.
The Tibetan political leader has strongly criticized Beijing’s stance on reincarnation, stating, “The Chinese government is not bothered by the living 14th Dalai Lama, but they are more concerned about the yet-to-come 15th Dalai Lama.” His administration, the 16th Cabinet, reaffirmed Tibet’s position on the matter by releasing an official statement titled Position on the Issue of Reincarnation of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on September 29, 2022. The Position Paper directly counters China’s so-called Management Measures for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, or Order No. 5, reinforcing the Tibetan people’s right to determine the issue of reincarnation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama without external interference.
Observers note that Beijing’s claims over the Dalai Lama’s successor are part of a broader effort to Sinicise Tibetan religion, culture, and identity. By installing a Beijing-appointed Dalai Lama, critics argue, the Chinese Communist Party aims to weaken Tibetan resistance, fracture the spiritual unity of Tibetans both inside Tibet and in exile, and obscure Tibet’s historical independence.
