Dalai Lama says successor will be chosen after his death; China claims final say

The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, has confirmed that he will have a successor after his death—reassuring Buddhists worldwide that the 600-year-old institution will continue.

The announcement is important for Tibetans who had long feared an uncertain future without their revered leader, and for global supporters who view him as a symbol of peace, compassion, and the fight to preserve Tibetan identity under Chinese rule.

Tenzin Gyatso is considered the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama by Tibetans. He is widely respected for advocating greater autonomy for Tibet—an expansive, high-altitude region in China roughly the size of South Africa.

Following the 1959 uprising in Lhasa, the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans fled into exile in India, where he has since lived.

Although he had previously stated that the institution would only continue if people desired it, he revealed today that, over the past 14 years, he has received numerous appeals urging the continuation of the Dalai Lama’s legacy. These requests came from the Tibetan diaspora, Himalayan Buddhists, and communities in Mongolia, Russia, China—and importantly, from within Tibet itself.

“In response to all these appeals, I affirm that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” he said in a video address from Dharamshala, ahead of his 90th birthday on July 6.

His age had raised concerns about the future leadership of the Tibetan cause and the sensitive issue of succession.

China’s reaction

Reacting to the announcement, China reiterated its claim that it must approve the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that all significant reincarnations, including the Dalai and Panchen Lamas, must follow a golden urn lottery system established by the Qing dynasty and be sanctioned by the central government.

“China allows religious freedom, but reincarnation must follow established rules and regulations,” she added.