The Dalai Lama is the political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, which is based in Dharamshala, and Tibetans believe that he is the reincarnation of his predecessors. The Dalai Lama was forced into exile after China occupied Tibet in 1959 and he is seen by the Chinese government as a symbol of a theocratic system.

The tensions between China and Tibet are very well known by the entire world and the Olympic Games only made those tensions more visible. Recently, the Dalai Lama declared that Tibet should act with caution in their relations with China and that serious repercussions could follow if this path is not taken.

The Dalai Lama declared that cutting off all ties with China is dangerous and also premature, and that the right way is to wait and see. The summit of the Tibetan government-in-exile is looking for new ideas to put in practice and autonomy and compromise with China. The Tibetan spiritual leader was not very rich in other alternatives from the caution path, and the other leader said that if China doesn’t grant autonomy soon, they might demand full independence. It is very clear that these decisions are difficult to take and that the Dalai Lama is getting older. On this issue, the Dalai Lama declared that he will be 83 in 10 years and 93 in 20.

Leaders fear a future following their spiritual leader’s death as they believe that choosing another Dalai Lama is a very intricate process and China might interfere and by doing so crushing all their hopes and dreams.