The 14th Dalai Lama announced his decision to step down from his political role in Tibet on Thursday. Since 1950, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet has also been the lead political figure of the region.
He said he is worried about who will succeed him when he dies and wants to ensure there is a smooth shift of power before that happens. The Dalai Lama said he wants the Tibetan refugee community to move towards democracy and away from theocratic rule.
Chinese authorities were quick to announce the new Dalai Lama must meet approval from Beijing in order to take the position. However, reports have stated the Tibetan community is worried about Chinese oversight. China still claims Tibet is a part of Chinese territory.
The Dalai Lama fled to India after a 1959 uprising forced him to flee into exile. The Tibetan government-in-exile is not recognized by any country.
