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Dalai Lama's remarks on succession raise China's ire

Last Updated: Thursday, November 22, 2007 | 1:12 PM ET

China's foreign ministry has criticized the Dalai Lama's suggestion he may appoint a successor, breaking a centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist tradition in which the next spiritual leader is chosen after the death and reincarnation of his predecessor, news reports say.

The Dalai Lama, left, shakes hands with Eishi Okamoto, chief priest of Gokoku-ji Buddhist temple, on his arrival at the temple in Tokyo Thursday.The Dalai Lama, left, shakes hands with Eishi Okamoto, chief priest of Gokoku-ji Buddhist temple, on his arrival at the temple in Tokyo Thursday.
(Koji Sasahara/Associated Press)

The 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, made a remark in Japan earlier this week that he may name a successor before his death or let high monks elect the next spiritual leader.

"Dalai's remarks obviously violated the religious rituals and historical conventions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told the state news agency Xinhua.

Liu is quoted as saying the Chinese government carries out a policy of religious freedom and has respect for the conventions of Tibetan Buddhism, citing a new regulation on the reincarnation of lamas.

It's that new regulation, enacted Sept. 1, that has fuelled worries China could forcibly choose a pro-Beijing leader once the current Dalai Lama is dead, a move believed to have prompted the spiritual leader's comments.

The order states that all future lama appointments related to Tibetan Buddhism must get government approval and be selected without influence from outside sources.

China considers the Dalai Lama a traitor. The Dalai Lama and his followers have lived in exile in India since fleeing in 1959.

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