Dalai Lama Confirms Succession Will Continue Amid China Tensions
This momentous announcement carries significance not only for Tibetans but also for millions worldwide who regard the Dalai Lama as an embodiment of peaceful resistance, compassion, and the preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage under Chinese occupation.
Recognized by Tibetans as the 14th incarnation in the lineage, the spiritual leader made his declaration just days before celebrating his 90th birthday on July 6, timing that underscores the urgency surrounding succession questions.
Speaking from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, where he has resided for decades, the Dalai Lama revealed he had received numerous appeals over the past 14 years from various Buddhist communities. These requests came from Tibetan exiles, Himalayan region Buddhists, and followers in Mongolia, Russia, and China, all urging the continuation of the institution.
Particularly significant were messages he received through various channels from Tibetans still living within Tibet, demonstrating the enduring connection between the exiled leader and his homeland population.
"Following all these requests, I am confirming that the Dalai Lama institution will persist," he stated during a video address to religious leaders gathered in Dharamshala, according to official translations.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of his prolonged exile, which began when Chinese military forces suppressed a Tibetan uprising in Lhasa in 1959, forcing him and thousands of followers to seek refuge in India.
His advancing years have intensified discussions about Tibetan leadership's future and the complex matter of his succession. While Beijing denounces him as a separatist rebel, the internationally recognized leader characterizes himself simply as a "Buddhist monk."
Tibetan exile communities harbor deep concerns that China might attempt to install its own chosen successor to strengthen control over the territory it occupied militarily in 1950.
Addressing these fears directly, the Dalai Lama emphasized that identifying the 15th Dalai Lama will be the "exclusive responsibility" of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, his official office.
He reinforced this position by stating unequivocally that the Gaden Phodrang Trust possesses "sole authority to recognize the future reincarnation," firmly declaring that no other entity has permission to interfere in this sacred process.
This definitive statement represents a direct challenge to any potential Chinese intervention in the succession, establishing clear religious and institutional boundaries around one of Buddhism's most significant leadership transitions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 minutes ago
- Business Standard
China used embassies to undermine Rafale sales: French intelligence
China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale jets after they saw combat in India and Pakistan's clashes in May, French military and intelligence officials have concluded, implicating Beijing in an effort to hammer the reputation and sales of France's flagship fighter. Findings from a French intelligence service seen by The Associated Press say defence attaches in China's foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes. The findings were shared with AP by a French military official on condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named. Four days of India-Pakistan clashes in May were the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, and included air combat that involved dozens of aircraft from both sides. Military officials and researchers have since been digging for details of how Pakistan's Chinese-made military hardware — particularly warplanes and air-combat missiles — fared against weaponry that India used in airstrikes on Pakistani targets, notably French-made Rafale fighters. Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for France's defence industry and help efforts by the government in Paris to strengthen ties with other nations, including in Asia where China is becoming the dominant regional power. France is fighting what it calls a disinformation campaign against the Rafale Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes during the fighting, including three Rafales. French officials say that prompted questions about their performance from countries that have bought the fighter from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. India acknowledged aircraft losses but didn't say how many. French air force chief Gen Jerome Bellanger said that he's seen evidence pointing to just 3 Indian losses — a Rafale, a Russian-made Sukhoi and a Mirage 2000, which is an earlier generation French-made jet. It was the first known combat loss of a Rafale, which France has sold to eight countries. 'Of course, all those, the nations that bought Rafales, asked themselves questions,' Bellanger said. French officials have been battling to protect the plane from reputational damage, pushing back against what they allege was a concerted campaign of Rafale-bashing and disinformation online from Pakistan and its ally China. They say the campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat. More than 1,000 social media accounts newly created as the India-Pakistan clashes erupted also spread a narrative of Chinese technological superiority, according to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation. French military officials say they haven't been able to link the online Rafale-bashing directly to the Chinese government. Intelligence assessment says Chinese officials lobbied potential clients to ditch French planes. But the French intelligence service said Chinese embassy defence attaches echoed the same narrative in meetings they held with security and defence officials from other countries, arguing that Indian Air Force Rafales performed poorly and promoting Chinese-made weaponry. The defence attaches focused their lobbying on countries that have ordered Rafales and other potential customer-nations that are considering purchases, the intelligence service said. It said French officials learned of the meetings from nations that were approached. Asked by AP to comment on the alleged effort to dent the Rafale's appeal, the Ministry of National Defence in Beijing said: 'The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability.' In recent years, China has stepped up disinformation campaigns on global social media platforms like X, Instagram or Facebook, using networks of state-sponsored influencers, sites that pose as news organizations, and fake social media accounts to spread narratives from Beijing. France's Defence Ministry said the Rafale was targeted by 'a vast campaign of disinformation" that 'sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, notably of Chinese design.' France considers the jet a strategic French offering "The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theater," the Defence Ministry wrote on its website. 'The Rafale was also targeted because it represents a strategic French offering. By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defence industrial and technological base. The disinformation campaign therefore did not merely target an aircraft, but more broadly a national image of strategic autonomy, industrial reliability, and solid partnerships.' Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafales, including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. Indonesia has ordered 42 planes and is considering buying more. China may be hoping to weaken the security relationships that France is building with Asian nations by spreading worries about the equipment it supplies, said Justin Bronk, an airpower specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, a defence and security think tank in London. 'From a point of view of limiting Western countries' influence in the Indo-Pacific, it would make sense for China to be using the performance of Pakistani weapon systems — or at least purported performance — in downing at least one Rafale as a tool to undermine its attractiveness as an export,' he said. 'They certainly saw an opportunity to damage French sales prospects in the region."
The Wire
28 minutes ago
- The Wire
Amidst 'Successor' Talk, PM Modi Wishes the Dalai Lama on His 90th Birthday
Diplomacy While attending the ceremonies honouring the Dalai Lama at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, Union minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated that 'whatever decision' taken by the Dalai Lama would be abided by. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday on July 6, calling him an 'enduring symbol of love'. In a post on social media platform X, Modi said: 'I join 1.4 billion Indians in extending our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday. He has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline. His message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued good health and long life.' This is not the first time that Modi has wished the Dalai Lama on his birthday. Last year on his 89th birthday, Modi wished him a quick recovery from his knee surgery. Simmering tensions In 2023 too, Modi had wished the Tibetan spiritual leader on social media. Modi's birthday wish to the Dalai Lama this year, however, comes at a time when tensions between India and China are still simmering over the issue of who will choose the successor of the current Dalai Lama. While the Dalai Lama has said that only the India-based Gaden Phodrang Trust founded by him can decide on his successor, China has claimed that it has authority to do so. Tensions further aggravated earlier this week, when India's Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, and Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, said that 'no one has the right to interfere or decide' on who the Dalai Lama's successor would be. 'Only he or his institution has the authority to make that decision. His followers believe that deeply. It's important for disciples across the world that he decides his succession,' he was quoted as saying. In response to these remarks, China's foreign ministry warned India on July 4 against interfering in its domestic affairs at the expense of bilateral relations, as The Wire had reported. 'We hope the Indian side will fully understand the highly sensitive nature of Tibet-related issues, recognise the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama,' s pokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference. Rijiju had said that he had spoken as a 'follower and a devotee', as he is a practicing Buddhist. Meanwhile, also on July 4, India's foreign ministry said the country does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. 'We have seen reports relating to the statement made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama about the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution. Government of India does not take any position or speak on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. Government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so,' the Ministry of External Affairs' official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement on July 4. 'Living bridge' On Sunday, July 6, while attending the ceremonies honouring the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday at Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh Rijiju reiterated that 'whatever decision' taken by the Dalai Lama would be abided by. According to a report by Times of India, Rijiju said at the gathering on Sunday that Indians feel blessed with his presence in India, which he 'regards as his arya bhumi '. In 2020, the Dalai Lama had said that they consider India their ' arya bhumi ', 'a country that is highly developed in spiritual terms'. 'Your holiness, you are more than a spiritual leader. You are a living bridge between ancient wisdom and the modern world,' Times of India quoted Rijiju as saying today. Rijiju also said that whatever decision taken by the Dalai Lama would be abided by, according to ToI: "As a devotee and on behalf of millions of devotees across the world I want to state that whatever decision taken by His Holiness, the established traditions and conventions, we will fully abide by it and follow the directions and guidelines to be issued by the institution of the Dalai Lama.' The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
Manufacturing setback: India's electronics sector faces twin blow from import curbs on gold compounds, rare earths; industry warns of supply disruption
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. India's electronics manufacturing industry is grappling with mounting pressure as recent restrictions on gold compound imports have compounded the sector's ongoing struggle with China's export curbs on rare earth magnets. As per news agency PTI, industry groups have warned that the dual hit could disrupt production lines, delay investments, and weaken India's push for electronics self-reliance under schemes like Make in India and PLI. Gold compounds, especially Potassium Gold Cyanide, are essential in manufacturing high-end electronic components such as semiconductors, printed circuit boards, and connectors, due to their superior conductivity. However, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), in a June 17 order, moved these imports from the 'free' to the 'restricted' category. According to the India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), the sudden policy shift has caused 'uncertainty in ongoing efforts to scale up electronics manufacturing,' especially in sub-assemblies that rely on gold-based plating materials. 'This unpredictability could deter investment,' ICEA chairman Pankaj Mohindroo warned in a letter to the ministry of electronics and IT, reported news agency PTI. Echoing these concerns, Elcina secretary general Rajoo Goel said customs authorities have begun holding consignments of gold-based compounds, resulting in 'significant delays to production lines.' He emphasised that these materials are used strictly for manufacturing, not bullion trading, and in trace amounts only. Elcina cautioned that such import hurdles threaten the objectives of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), PLI, and SPECS. 'The import restriction will adversely impact the ease of doing business for component manufacturers,' the body said. This challenge comes on top of China's export curbs on rare earth elements like terbium and dysprosium, key for manufacturing NdFeB magnets used in electronics, EVs, and wind turbines. As per PTI, over 21,000 jobs are at risk in Noida and South India's audio electronics segment alone due to these restrictions. Moreover, electronics firms face delays in importing specialised capital goods from China, with companies like iPhone-maker Foxconn recently forced to withdraw Chinese engineers from its Tamil Nadu facility, affecting production schedules. According to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), China's export restrictions now extend to gallium, germanium, graphite, and other critical minerals. GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said these moves expose India's deep strategic vulnerabilities and urged the government to launch reverse-engineering initiatives to cut reliance on Chinese inputs. 'India must act swiftly to reduce Chinese import dependence,' Srivastava said, calling for industrial labs to develop local substitutes for top imported products. With imports from China rising and exports falling, India's trade deficit with Beijing has widened to $100 billion in FY25. Over 80 per cent of India's needs in laptops, solar panels, antibiotics, and lithium-ion batteries continue to be met by Chinese firms. As the sector calls for urgent government intervention, the electronics industry warns that unless bottlenecks around raw materials and capital goods are cleared, India's ambitions of becoming a global electronics manufacturing hub could face serious setbacks. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
