Here's an excellent quote from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning: "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and other living Buddhas must be approved by the central government".
This, of course, is China trying to assert its authority over the Tibetan government-in-exile. But I can't help but think that they have the whole thing rather misunderstood. Dalai Lamas are not voted in by government committee, and they are certainly not imposed by government decree as Ms. Mao seems to think.
You can roll your eyes to your heart's content over the idea of a religious leader appearing as a reincarnation, especially one that is somehow picked by the Gaden Phodrang Trust. But China's willful misconstructions are even more hilarious.
