The 90-year-old Nobel laureate was honoured in the audiobook category for Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a collection of teachings and reflections recorded with contributions from multiple artists.
China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the award at a press briefing, stating that Beijing “firmly opposes relevant parties using art awards as a tool for anti-China political manipulation,” and said the country’s stance on the issue was “consistent and clear.”
The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since 1959 after fleeing a Chinese military crackdown in Tibet, has long campaigned for greater autonomy for the Himalayan region. Beijing, however, regards him as a separatist and insists Tibet is an inseparable part of China.
In response to the award, the Dalai Lama posted on social media that he accepted the recognition with “gratitude and humility,” adding that he did not view it as a personal accolade but rather a recognition of “our shared universal responsibility.”
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| Rufus Wainwright collected the award on behalf of the Tibetan spiritual leader |
The controversy comes amid renewed tensions over succession plans announced last year by the Dalai Lama. Under Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Dalai Lama is believed to be reincarnated after death—a spiritual process that Beijing has repeatedly rejected as a political threat.
The Dalai Lama has previously said his next incarnation would occur in the “free world,” implying a location outside of China. Beijing has rejected this claim, insisting that any future Dalai Lama must be identified in accordance with Chinese laws and religious procedures and must receive government approval.
The debate has heightened fears among Tibetans in exile that China may attempt to appoint a successor to consolidate its authority over Tibet, which Beijing has controlled since its military invasion in 1950.