Penpa Tsering, President, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), or the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, spoke to Nayanima Basu for ‘The Gist‘ on StratNews Global on the upcoming elections to select the next ‘President’ or Sikyong and on the reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama and the stance taken by China.
During the conversation, Tsering said, there might come a situation where the world will end up having two Dalai Lamas – one who will be born in the “free world” as the 14th Dalai Lama has said, and the one selected by China.
In his view, the latter will not have any freedom to move around the world because he will be a Chinese puppet, answerable only to Beijing and therefore lacking credibility. The one selected by the Dalai Lama or through the trust he has set up, will be the true successor.
His Holiness has already indicated that there will be a “framework” to discuss the succession, one that abides by Tibetan tradition and will respect the immense faith reposed in him by followers all over the world.
Tsering was clear that China “is using the reincarnation issue as a political tool. The next Dalai Lama can be a woman, or a successor can be selected by the Dalai Lama even while he is living.”
Only the Dalai Lama can decide on this issue, one which touches the heart of the spiritual seat of Tibetan Buddhism. Tsering was clear that China was only intent on finessing its control over Tibet. It made no sense that an officially atheist state is meddling in what is a purely religious matter. The world also needs to recall how China has dealt with Tibet and the Tibetan people.
He said that since the Central Tibetan Administration is headed for general elections in February and April 2026, his office is focussed on bringing the entire Tibetan community worldwide together.
Tune in for more in this conversation with Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration.
