Chinese govt should not interfere in succession process of Dalai Lama, says US

Washington DC, March 11: Giving a direct warning to Beijing, the US president-led government stated the Chinese government shouldn't interfere in the succession process of Tibet's spiritual leader Dalai Lama.

 

US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said, "We believe that the Chinese Government should have no role in the succession process of the Dalai Lama." His statement comes in response to a question on President Joe Biden's position on the issue of Dalai Lama's reincarnation.

 

He further said, "Beijing's interference in the succession of the Panchen Lama more than 25 years ago, including by, "disappearing the Panchen Lama as a child and attempting to replace him with a People's Republic of China (PRC) government-chosen successor remains an outrageous abuse of religious freedom."

 

Panchen Lama is one of the most important figures in the Gelug tradition, with its spiritual authority second only to Dalai Lama. In 1995, when the 14th Dalai Lama announced Gedhun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama, the Chinese government kidnapped a 6-year-old Panchen Lama just 3 days after it.

 

A Chinese substitute is seen as a political tool to undermine the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, which traditionally is recognized by the Panchen Lama. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima remains forcibly detained by the Chinese government, along with his family, in an undisclosed location since 1995.

 

The Dalai Lama had fled to India in 1959 along with his supporters amid growing Chinese repression. The Tibetan spiritual leader has been staying in Dharamsala ever since.

 

Former President in 2020 has signed a Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 to preempt Chinese move on Dalai Lama's succession. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 modifies and re-authorizes various programs and provisions related to Tibet. US senate had passed the bill with a 392-22 majority with the Senate passing it as well. According to the new law, the United States will impose sanctions on officials "who directly interfere with the identification and installation of the future 15th Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism.

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