As the 14th Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, tensions are rising over China’s efforts to assert control over the selection of his successor. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has long oppressed religious practices, is now claiming the authority to decide the next Dalai Lama, a move critics see as a dangerous act of cultural and religious appropriation.

The Dalai Lama has rejected China’s authoritarian influence and made it clear that his successor will be born in a free country. Beijing’s statement is based on a selective historical reference to the 1793 “Golden Urn” ceremony, which critics argue is flawed and inconsistent with past practices.

This attempt to control the Dalai Lama’s succession echoes China’s previous actions with the Panchen Lama, where it forcibly replaced the Dalai Lama’s choice with one of its own, a decision widely rejected by Tibetans. The CCP’s increasing bureaucratization of religion, including the 2007 “Order No. 5,” which requires government approval for any reincarnation, has raised international concerns.

Global leaders, including the United States and the Netherlands, have begun to back down, saying the Dalai Lama’s wishes should be central to choosing his successor. The controversy highlights the broader struggle for cultural survival in Tibet, with many seeing China’s actions as an attempt to erase Tibetan identity and spirituality.

As the Dalai Lama approaches his twilight years, the world is watching closely, knowing that the outcome could have profound implications for religious freedom and the preservation of Tibetan culture.