World leaders from India, the United States and Taiwan paid tribute on Sunday to the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, as he marked his 90th birthday, a milestone that casts a renewed spotlight on the future of Tibet and rising tensions with China.
The revered figure, who calls himself a “simple Buddhist monk”, celebrated the occasion in India, where he has lived since 1959 after fleeing Tibet during a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Thousands of Tibetans followed him into exile, and today he remains the symbolic heart of the Tibetan struggle for cultural and religious autonomy.
Tibetans around the world fear that Beijing will attempt to install a rival successor to the Dalai Lama once he passes, in a bid to tighten its grip on the Himalayan region it seized in 1950. The Dalai Lama has insisted that only his office in India has the legitimate authority to identify his eventual successor, a stance that directly challenges China’s claim of control over the reincarnation process.
In a statement read at the celebrations in McLeod Ganj, the hill town in Himachal Pradesh where the Dalai Lama resides, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his “warmest wishes” to His Holiness.
“He has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline,” Modi said, a gesture seen as particularly significant given India’s often fraught relationship with China. Though both nations have tried to mend ties after a deadly border clash in 2020, they remain strategic rivals across South Asia.
China responded swiftly on Wednesday, asserting that it alone would determine the Dalai Lama’s successor, reaffirming its stance that religious affairs in Tibet fall under its jurisdiction.
The United States also reaffirmed its support for Tibet. In a statement read at the ceremony, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained “committed to promoting respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans”.
“We support efforts to preserve Tibetans’ distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage, including their ability to freely choose and venerate religious leaders without interference,” the statement read.
Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, echoed these sentiments, calling the Dalai Lama’s life “an example that resonates with all who cherish freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.” Taiwan, like Tibet, remains a geopolitical flashpoint, with China claiming sovereignty over the self-governed island.
The event also featured pre-recorded tributes from three former US presidents. Bill Clinton praised the Dalai Lama’s continued work in “building a better, kinder, more compassionate world” at a time when “the forces of division” are on the rise.
World leaders greet Dalai Lama
George W. Bush said, “The world is a troubled place, and we need your spirit of kindness and compassion and love more than ever.”
Barack Obama offered a warm personal message, calling the Dalai Lama “the youngest 90 year old I know”. Reflecting on their friendship, he added: “It is humbling to realise that you’ve been a leader on the world stage for longer than I’ve been alive. You’ve shown generations what it means to practise compassion, and speak up for freedom and dignity. Not bad for someone who describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk.”
As Tibetans and supporters worldwide mark this milestone, questions remain about what lies ahead after the Dalai Lama, both for the spiritual leadership of Tibetan Buddhism and for the region’s turbulent political landscape.
