The Dalai Lama has declared that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a non-profit foundation he established, will have the sole authority to recognize his future reincarnation, countering China's insistence on choosing his successor. This statement, made ahead of his 90th birthday, aims to prevent China from influencing the selection of the next spiritual leader. China, however, has responded by asserting that any future Dalai Lama must be approved by the Chinese government, following the "Golden Urn" process.

The Dalai Lama's announcement, made during the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference in McLeodganj, puts to rest speculation that he might be the last Dalai Lama. In a recorded video message, he affirmed that the institution of the Dalai Lama would continue and that the Gaden Phodrang Trust would oversee the search for his reincarnation, consulting with heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions and Dharma Protectors. He emphasized that "no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter". Samdhong Rinpoche, a senior official of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, clarified that the successor could be of any gender and need not be from Tibet.

China's foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, responded by insisting that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must follow the "Golden Urn" process and be approved by the central government. This process, dating back to 1793, involves drawing names of possible reincarnations from an urn, a method China claims is in line with Chinese religious traditions and laws. China views the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist.

The Gaden Phodrang Trust was registered in 2011 with the aim of recognizing the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. It operates from the Dalai Lama's office and is managed by senior monks and close confidants. The Dalai Lama's decision to entrust the trust with the succession process is seen as a move to maintain control over the selection of his successor and to prevent China from imposing its own choice.

The dispute over the Dalai Lama's succession highlights the ongoing tensions between the Tibetan Buddhist community and the Chinese government. Many exiled Tibetans fear that China will name its own successor to bolster control over Tibet. There is precedent for this, as China appointed its own Panchen Lama after the Dalai Lama recognized another. The Dalai Lama has urged his followers to reject any successor chosen by Beijing. He has also stated that his successor will be born outside China.

The Dalai Lama's assertion that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has the sole authority to recognize his reincarnation sets the stage for a potential clash with China. The Chinese government's insistence on approving the next Dalai Lama suggests that there could be two competing Dalai Lamas in the future: one chosen by the Tibetan Buddhist community and one chosen by Beijing. This situation could create further divisions within the Tibetan Buddhist community and complicate the search for a universally recognized spiritual leader.