China Claims Dalai Lama Reincarnation as Core Sovereignty Issue

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Spokesperson Yu Jing claims the Dalai Lama issue a “thorn” in China-India relations, reminding New Delhi of its past political commitments

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, July 13, 2025 — In a sharp response following the grand 90th birthday celebrations of the 14th Dalai Lama, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi has issued a strongly worded statement accusing some Indian voices — including former officials and scholars — of making “improper remarks” on the sensitive issue of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Chinese Embassy spokesperson Yu Jing asserted that the reincarnation and succession of the Dalai Lama are “inherently an internal affair of China” and warned Indian commentators to refrain from interfering in what Beijing sees as a core sovereignty issue.

“It has been noted some people from strategic and academic communities, including former officials, have made some improper remarks on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, contrary to Indian government’s public stance,” Yu wrote, cautioning that these individuals “should be fully cognizant of the sensitivity of issues related to Xizang (Tibet)”.

The statement comes days after top Indian leaders, including Union Ministers and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, attended the Dalai Lama’s birthday function in Dharamshala — a move seen in Beijing as politically charged. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent birthday greetings to the Tibetan spiritual leader, while high-level dignitaries from the United States and Europe were in attendance at the event.

Calling the Dalai Lama issue a “thorn” in China-India relations, Yu reminded New Delhi of its past political commitments, stating: “The Indian government recognizes that the Xizang Autonomous Region is part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and does not allow Tibetans to engage in political activities against China in India.”

Without naming specific individuals, the Chinese statement appears to target recent commentary in Indian think tanks and op-ed pages that have questioned China’s claimed authority over the reincarnation process of the Dalai Lama, or have called for a more assertive Indian position on Tibet.

On Tibetan Boarding Schools: ‘Seeing Is Believing’

The embassy’s statement also lashed out at international media reports accusing China of cultural assimilation and suppression in Tibet, particularly through its residential school system. Referring to these claims as “irresponsible” and based on a “fake report,” Yu defended the boarding schools in the Xizang Autonomous Region as “a practical solution” given the region’s harsh terrain and dispersed population.

She noted that boarding schools help children from nomadic and herding families access education and claimed the system promotes Tibetan language, folk dance, literature, cuisine, and attire, with active parental involvement. Yu emphasized that students are free to return home on weekends and holidays, dismissing claims of state-enforced separation from families.

“In July, some Indian journalists visited boarding schools in Xizang and saw the true story on the ground,” she wrote, urging Indian media to “adopt a fact-based and rational approach” and stop relying on “fabricated narratives”.

Tense Backdrop: Dalai Lama’s 90th and Growing International Support

The Chinese statement lands amid rising global attention on the future of Tibetan leadership as the Dalai Lama grows older. The presence of international dignitaries at his 90th celebration — particularly from India, the US, and Europe — signals growing diplomatic interest in the Tibetan issue.

While India has maintained a cautious official line — recognizing Tibet as part of China and discouraging anti-China political activity by Tibetans on Indian soil — the high-profile nature of the birthday celebrations has triggered Beijing’s ire. China continues to view any external engagement with the Dalai Lama as a direct challenge to its authority over Tibet.

As geopolitical tensions between India and China simmer over multiple fronts — from border stand-offs to trade policy — the Dalai Lama’s legacy and succession have re-emerged as a flashpoint. Beijing has repeatedly suggested that it intends to control the appointment of the next Dalai Lama, while the Tibetan exile administration has vowed that only the current Dalai Lama has the spiritual and traditional authority to decide.

With both nations watching the spiritual succession process closely, Yu’s remarks underscore Beijing’s increasing sensitivity to any deviation from its tightly held Tibet policy — especially in India, where the Dalai Lama has lived in exile since 1959.