Firmly committed to promoting freedoms of Tibetans: US, in birthday message to Dalai Lama
In a message wishing the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, the US also said it remains firmly committed to promoting respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said:
'The United States extends best wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.
'The Dalai Lama continues to inspire people by embodying a message of unity, peace, and compassion.
'The United States remains firmly committed to promoting respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans.
'We support efforts to preserve Tibetans' distinct linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage, including their ability to freely choose and venerate religious leaders without interference.'
Earlier this week, ahead of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama had announced that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.
He made the statement in a pre-recorded video that aired at the start of a three-day religious conference in Dharamshala, where he has lived in exile since he fled to India in 1959.
The English translation published on his website said the search for his successor will be carried out by The Gaden Phodrang Trust, a religious body of Buddhist monks who are part of the office of the Dalai Lama in India.
The statement also added that "no one else has any such authority to interfere in the matter', in a snub to China, which had said that it alone has the authority to appoint the next leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
Originally named Lhamo Thondup, the current Dalai Lama is the 14th in the line of leaders, and was born in a family of farmers in 1935.
When he was two years old, a search party of the Tibetan government identified him as the reincarnation after showing him several possessions that belonged to the 13th Dalai Lama."
In every case, the infant correctly identified those belonging to the 13th Dalai Lama, saying, 'It's mine. It's mine,'" his official website says.
"This more or less convinced the search party that they had found the new incarnation."
The 14th Dalai Lama was enthroned February 22, 1940, and renamed Tenzin Gyatso.
The Dalai Lama has said the search for his successor would be "in accordance with tradition."
China has termed the Dalai Lama as a "political exile engaged in separatist activities under the guise of religion'.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the spiritual leader "has absolutely no right to represent the people" of Tibet.
Mao said that reincarnations of high-ranking lamas must have "approval by the central government' and 'be handled in accordance with national laws and regulations'.
China passed legislation in 2007 that says the search for reincarnated lamas must take place within China, and that the government has the final say in recognizing them.
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