Latest news with #GyaltsenNorbu
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is Gyaltsen Norbu, China's probable pick for next Dalai Lama?
China said on Monday it protested to India over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's greetings to the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday and the attendance of Indian officials at the celebrations, stressing New Delhi should fully appreciate Beijing's sensitivities on Tibet-related issues. Norbu was chosen by China as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995, replacing the Dalai Lama's choice.(REUTERS File) The position of the Chinese government on Tibet-related issues is consistent and clear, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here. Mao was replying to a question on Prime Minister Modi's greeting the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday and the attendance of Indian officials, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, at his birthday celebrations. Last Wednesday, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama said the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue, and only the Gaden Phodrang Trust will have the authority to recognise his future reincarnation. Mao had reiterated China's stand that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, the second-highest priest of Tibetan Buddhism, has to comply with rigorous religious rituals and historical conventions in line with domestic search, lots drawn from a 'golden urn', and the central government's approval. The present 14th Dalai Lama went through this procedure and was approved by the then central government, she had said. The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must uphold those principles and follow religious rituals and historical conventions, and Chinese law and regulations, she had said. Appearing to be a move to replace the 14th Dalai Lama, China had appointed a young Tibetan, Gyaltsen Norbu, as the second-highest spiritual leader in Tibetan Buddhism, who pledged to make the religion more Chinese and might be the one whom China would appoint as the next Dalai Lama. Who is Gyaltsen Norbu? According to a Reuters report, Gyaltsen Norbu is a senior member of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference, a rubber-stamp political advisory body, and vice president of the state-controlled Buddhist Association of China. Gyaltsen Norbu was chosen by China as the 11th Panchen Lama in 1995, replacing the Dalai Lama's choice, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a six-year-old boy who hasn't been seen in the last 30 years. Where does Gyaltsen Norbu live? He does not live at Tashi Lunpo monastery in Tibet's Shigatse city, which is Panchen Lama's traditional seat, but in Beijing. He visits Tibet for a few months each year to meet government officials and take part in religious ceremonies, according to Chinese state media. Gyaltsen Norbu's association with Chinese Communist Party Gyaltsen Norbu's movements are heavily controlled by the Chinese government, said the Reuters report. In a recent meeting in Zhongnanhai, the Communist Party's leadership compound in Beijing, President Xi Jinping asked Norbu to "advance the systematic promotion of the Sinicisation of religion.' The term refers to a years-long push to bring all organised religions in China under greater Communist Party ideological control. At the meeting with the Chinese President, Gyaltsen Norbu vowed to 'firmly support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.' Tibetan officials living in exile in India, like the Dalai Lama, said it was exactly the kind of political interference that they wanted to avoid in the eventual succession of the Dalai Lama. Gyaltsen Norbu went to Buddhist-majority Thailand in 2019, his first visit outside greater China. Local media in Nepal said last year that the government there shot down a proposal by Norbu to visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. What do Tibetans think of Gyaltsen Norbu? For ordinary Tibetans living abroad, Gyaltsen Norbu is just another monk from their community. Tibetan activists living abroad and in India say, based on their conversations with friends and family in Tibet, that Norbu is not held in high esteem among ethnic Tibetans in China.
Deccan Herald
04-07-2025
- Deccan Herald
The two Panchen Lamas: China's role in Tibet and the clash with the Dalai Lama
The child in Tibet who the Dalai Lama chose as the 11th Panchen Lama disappeared in May, 1995 and has not been seen since. A few months later, the Chinese government appointed Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama.
Yomiuri Shimbun
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
China's Panchen Lama Pledges Loyalty to the Communist Party in a Meeting with Xi
Xinhua via AP In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, Gyaltsen Norbu, the Chinese government-appointed 11th Panchen Lama, presents a hada to Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing on Friday, June 6, 2025. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The man picked by Beijing as the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism pledged adherence to the ruling Communist Party's dictates Friday during a rare face-to-face meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, state media reported. Gyaltsen Norbu, who is rarely seen in public, met behind closed doors with Xi Jinping in Zhongnanhai, the government compound in the center of Beijing, about 3,700 kilometers (about 2,300 miles) from his home monastery of Tashilhumpo, high on the Tibetan steppe. Gyaltsen Norbu, 35, said he would 'firmly support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and resolutely safeguard the unity of the motherland and national unity,' the Xinhua News Agency reported. The Chinese government appointed Gyaltsen Norbu as the Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism in 1995 at age 5 after followers of the Dalai Lama recognized a different boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the Panchen's incarnation. That boy and his family disappeared in 1995 in what the U.S. government has alleged was an abduction by the Chinese government, and the Dalai Lama, 89, has refused to recognize the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama. The Chinese government says Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is now a college graduate living a private life and working at a stable job, while producing no evidence. The Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama was quoted Friday by Xinhua as saying that he would 'contribute to promoting national unity and progress, systematically promote the sinicization of religion in China, and promote the modernization of Tibet.' Xi's government uses the term 'sinicization' to mean that all religions including Christianity and Islam must take their orders from the Communist Party, reduce their non-Chinese aspects and limit their role in society. Xi was quoted as telling the Chinese government's Panchen that he should continue Tibetan Buddhism's 'strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, systematically advancing the sinicization of religion in China, and promoting the modernization of Tibet.' Last month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, saying he and his family had been abducted by the Chinese government. 'Chinese authorities should release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima immediately and stop persecuting Tibetans for their religious beliefs,' Rubio's statement read. The position of Panchen Lama is especially sensitive since he is expected to take part in the recognition of a new Dalai Lama and serve as his tutor, a religious process that the officially atheist Communist Party is determined to control. The meeting Friday also reflected Xi's focus on economic and political stability within China's borders, where an economic slump has raised concerns of anti-government outbursts and control over minority groups is an overwhelming obsession. China claims Tibet has been part of China for centuries, but many Tibetans say they were effectively independent for much of that time and that Beijing is now seeking to destroy their human rights, language and Buddhist culture. The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese forces and has long been vilified by Beijing as a separatist. The government denies his traditional right to recognize reincarnated lamas.
BreakingNews.ie
06-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Beijing-appointed Panchen Lama holds rare meeting with Chinese leader
The man picked by Beijing as the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism pledged adherence to the ruling Communist Party's dictates on Friday during a rare face-to-face meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Gyaltsen Norbu, who is rarely seen in public, met behind closed doors with Mr Xi in Zhongnanhai, the government compound in the centre of Beijing, about 2,300 miles from his home monastery of Tashilhumpo, high on the Tibetan steppe. Advertisement The 35-year-old said he would 'firmly support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and resolutely safeguard the unity of the motherland and national unity', the Xinhua News Agency reported. The Chinese government appointed him as the Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism in 1995 at age five after followers of the Dalai Lama recognised a different boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the Panchen's incarnation. That boy and his family disappeared in 1995 in what the US government has alleged was an abduction by the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama, 89, has refused to recognise the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama. Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) receives Gyaltsen Norbu as Wang Huning, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, looks on (Yan Yan/Xinhua via AP/PA) The Chinese government says Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is now a college graduate living a private life and working a stable job, while producing no evidence. Advertisement The Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama was quoted on Friday by Xinhua as saying he would 'contribute to promoting national unity and progress, systematically promote the sinicisation of religion in China, and promote the modernisation of Tibet'. Mr Xi's government uses the term 'sinicisation' to mean that all religions including Christianity and Islam must take their orders from the Communist Party, reduce their non-Chinese aspects and limit their role in society. Mr Xi was quoted as telling the Chinese government's Panchen that he should continue Tibetan Buddhism's 'strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, systematically advancing the sinicisation of religion in China, and promoting the modernisation of Tibet'. Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement marking the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, saying he and his family had been abducted by the Chinese government. Advertisement 'Chinese authorities should release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima immediately and stop persecuting Tibetans for their religious beliefs,' Mr Rubio's statement read. The position of Panchen Lama is especially sensitive since he is expected to take part in the recognition of a new Dalai Lama and serve as his tutor, a religious process that the officially atheist Communist Party is determined to control. The meeting on Friday also reflected Mr Xi's focus on economic and political stability within China's borders, where an economic slump has raised concerns of anti-government outbursts and control over minority groups is an overwhelming obsession.
Toronto Star
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
China's Panchen Lama pledges loyalty to the Communist Party in a meeting with Xi
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The man picked by Beijing as the second highest figure in Tibetan Buddhism pledged adherence to the ruling Communist Party's dictates Friday during a rare face-to-face meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, state media reported. Gyaltsen Norbu, who is rarely seen in public, met behind closed doors with Xi Jinping in Zhongnanhai, the government compound in the center of Beijing, about 3,700 kilometers (about 2,300 miles) from his home monastery of Tashilhumpo, high on the Tibetan steppe.
