The Dalai Lama’s decision to step down highlights a new dimension to the power struggle between China and the Tibetan government in exile. China has claimed the right to select the reincarnated Dalai Lama from within Tibet when the current Dalai Lama passes away.
However, any democratically-elected leader of the exile government would come from Tibet’s exile community. By pushing for this election before his death, the Dalai Lama could be ensuring that there is someone other than the Chinese-chosen Dalai Lama to lead the Tibetan people on political matters after his death.
