Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death | BBC News

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has confirmed that he will have a successor after his death, ending years of uncertainty. According to Tibetan tradition, Dalai Lamas are "reincarnated" after they die. The current Dalai Lama's exile from Tibet after China annexed it decades ago has made succession a highly contentious issue. China's government responded by saying it alone would choose the Dalai Lama's successor, which must be "approved by the central government". It regards the Dalai Lama as a separatist with no right to represent Tibetans.