China has issued a strong response to recent comments made by an Indian official concerning the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, calling the matter an internal Chinese affair.
In a statement shared on social media, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong reaffirmed Beijing’s position, asserting that Xizang (Tibet) is an inalienable part of China and that Tibetan Buddhism originated and evolved within Chinese territory, specifically the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Ambassador Xu emphasized that the appointment of religious figures, including the Dalai Lama, is solely under the jurisdiction of China’s central government.
“No foreign organization or individual has the right to interfere with or influence the reincarnation process,” he warned.
Xu added that China adheres strictly to its own laws and religious regulations when managing the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, and fully supports independence and self-governance in religious affairs within its legal framework.
The sharp remarks reflect Beijing’s longstanding view that foreign involvement in Tibetan religious matters, particularly the succession of the Dalai Lama, constitutes a violation of its sovereignty.
