By influencing the reincarnation process, China aims to assert its sovereignty over Tibet.
REINCARNATION
The Chinese government’s interest in controlling the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama, despite officially being an atheist state, is rooted in political and religious reasons. The Dalai Lama is a significant figure in Tibetan Buddhism and is traditionally believed to be reincarnated after death. The selection of his successor has historically been a religious process.
However, the Chinese government has sought to control this process for several reasons. By influencing the reincarnation process, China aims to assert its sovereignty over Tibet, which it annexed in 1951.
Controlling the selection of the next Dalai Lama allows China to mitigate any potential political unrest or movements for Tibetan independence.
China has imposed regulations that reincarnations must be recognized by the state and must be born within China’s borders, which gives the government control over Tibetan Buddhism.
This control is also a way for the Chinese government to remove the influence of the current Dalai Lama, who lives in exile and is a global advocate for Tibetan rights and autonomy.
The Chinese authorities have even enshrined the right to appoint and recognize reincarnated lamas into Chinese law, setting a precedent for state control over religious practices.
The issue of the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation is not just a religious matter but also a significant geopolitical issue, involving not only China and Tibet but also India, where the current Dalai Lama resides in exile. It’s a complex interplay of religion, politics, and international relations.
BACK-CHANNEL TALKS
Back-channel communications with the Chinese government can be considered ineffective for several reasons, as highlighted by recent reports and statements from officials involved in such discussions:
Despite the existence of back-channel talks, there has been little to no progress in achieving their intended outcomes. For instance, the President of the Tibetan government-in-exile mentioned that while back-channel talks with China exist, they have not progressed enough to be discussed publicly.
There is a high level of suspicion and distrust from the Chinese side, which hampers open and constructive dialogue. The Chinese authorities are very cautious and suspicious, making it difficult to move the talks beyond a preliminary stage.
The Tibetan community has been advised to prepare for a long-term struggle, possibly extending over decades, indicating that there is no expectation of a quick resolution through these back channels. The talks are described as very informal, with no immediate expectations from them. This informal nature might contribute to the lack of concrete outcomes and the absence of a structured dialogue process.
There are internal challenges within the communities engaged in back-channel talks, such as the younger generation’s restlessness due to the lack of progress. This internal unrest can affect the effectiveness of the talks.
External geopolitical factors, such as the relationship between India and China, can also influence the effectiveness of back-channel communications. The dynamics of these relationships can either highlight or overshadow the issues being discussed in the back channels.
These points suggest that while back-channel talks are a step towards dialogue, their effectiveness is limited by various factors, including political, social, and diplomatic complexities.
Khedroob Thondup is the son of Gyalo Thondup, elder brother of the Dalai Lama. Educated at St Stephens College, Delhi University and the University of San Francisco, Khedroob Thondup was Personal Assistant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and accompanied him on his first trip in 1979 to the U.S. He was sent by the Dalai Lama to Beijing from 1980 till 1993 in dialogue talks. He interacted with Xi Jinping’s father Xi Zhongxun and Hu Jintao. He is President of the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Centre, Darjeeling since 1987.