Who Decides the Next Dalai Lama?

As the Dalai Lama approaches his 90th birthday, global attention turns to the sensitive issue of his succession.
According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama reincarnates as a child, but China claims legal authority to approve the next spiritual leader—a stance Tibetans and rights advocates reject as political interference.
The current Dalai Lama has stated his successor will be born outside China, likely in exile, intensifying tensions.
With India hosting the Tibetan exile government and the US backing Tibetan autonomy, the spiritual decision now carries major geopolitical implications.