China warned India on Friday against interference in questions related to Tibet after an Indian minister supported the Dalai Lama declaration that his successor should be chosen by a Tibetan non -profit group, rejecting China’s measures to direct its succession.
“No one has the right to interfere or decide who will be the successor to His Holiness The Dalai Lama,” said Kiren Rijiju, Indian Minority Affairs.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has urged India to be prudent in its words and actions.
“We hope that the Indian side will fully understand the very sensitive nature of the problems linked to Tibet, will recognize the separatist anti-Chinet nature of the 14th Dalai Lama,” said spokesperson Mao Ning.
Friday, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs later published a statement on its website saying: “The government of India takes no post or speak of questions concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion.”
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959, said on Wednesday that his death, he would be reincarnated as the next spiritual leader and only the Gaden Phodrang Trust would be authorized to identify his successor.
Beijing maintains that he has the right to approve the Dalai Lama successor.
The Inter-Parliament Alliance on China (IPAC) said in a statement: “The reincarnation process of Tibetan Buddhists is a sacred tradition. Any CCC attempt to interfere in this spiritual case is an unacceptable violation of religious freedom and must be quickly condemned by the international community. “
Penpa Tsering, president of the Tibetan government in exile, spoke with journalists in Dharamsala at the end of the three -day conference of Tibetan religious leaders, where the Dalai Lama confirmed his succession plans.
“If China tries to use it in any way, in a way, we will not recognize it. In the future, we will not accept any of the choices of China. ”
Report by Dawa Dolma and Tenzin Woser in Dharamsala; Additional Reuters reports; Edited by Charlie Dharapak