China wants to pick the next Dalai Lama. Will democracies let it?
Attendant monks help Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama wear a ceremonial hat as he presides over an event celebrating his 90th birthday, according to a Tibetan calendar, at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, June 30, 2025. The Tibetan leader’s birthday falls on July 6, according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in most parts of the world. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)
(RNS) — As China grows more assertive in extending its authoritarianism beyond its borders, this succession question tests whether democratic nations still believe some principles transcend pragmatism.
