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July 4, 2025: In a rare and pointed statement, Indian Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has declared that only the Dalai Lama and the institution he leads have the authority to determine his successor—directly contradicting China’s longstanding claim over the spiritual lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.

Speaking ahead of the Tibetan leader’s 90th birthday celebrations in Dharamshala, Rijiju emphasized that the decision of the next Dalai Lama lies solely with His Holiness and the Gaden Phodrang Trust.

“No one has the right to interfere or decide who the successor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be,” Rijiju told reporters on Thursday. “Only he or his institution has the authority to make that decision. His followers believe that deeply.”

The Dalai Lama reiterated this week that his reincarnation will take place outside China and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he established, will identify his successor. Beijing, however, insists it holds the right to approve the next Dalai Lama—a claim it bases on historical precedent from imperial China.

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Rijiju, a practicing Buddhist, will join other Indian officials at the upcoming birthday events. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not officially commented on the matter, Rijiju’s remarks reflect growing Indian assertiveness regarding Tibetan autonomy amid continued tensions with China.

India hosts tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees and supports their freedom to practice religion and pursue education. The Dalai Lama’s residence in India is viewed by analysts as a source of diplomatic leverage for New Delhi in its complex relationship with Beijing.

India-China relations have been strained since a violent border clash in 2020, though both sides have gradually resumed dialogue in recent months.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama addresses via a video message at the inaugural session at the 15th Tibetan Religious Conference at the Dalai Lama Library and Archive near Tsuglagkhang, also known as Dalai Lama’s Temple complex, in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 2, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

DHARAMSHALA, India, July 4 (Reuters) – A senior Indian minister has said that only the Dalai Lama and the organization he has set up have the authority to identify his successor as the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, in a rare comment contradicting rival China’s long-held position.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, said on Wednesday that upon his death he would be reincarnated as the next spiritual leader and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust would be able to identify his successor. He previously said the person would be born outside China.

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Beijing says it has the right to approve the Dalai Lama’s successor as a legacy from imperial times.

Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister of parliamentary and minority affairs, made a rare statement on the matter on Thursday, ahead of visiting the Dalai Lama’s base in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala for the religious leader’s 90th birthday on Sunday.

“No one has the right to interfere or decide who the successor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be,” Indian media quoted Rijiju as telling reporters.

“Only he or his institution has the authority to make that decision. His followers believe that deeply. It’s important for disciples across the world that he decides his succession.”

In response to the remarks, China’s foreign ministry warned India on Friday against interfering in its domestic affairs at the expense of bilateral relations, urging it to be prudent in its words and actions.

“We hope the Indian side will fully understand the highly sensitive nature of Tibet-related issues, recognise the anti-China separatist nature of the 14th Dalai Lama,” spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular press conference.

India’s foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the Dalai Lama’s succession plan.

Rijiju, a practising Buddhist, will be joined by other Indian officials at the birthday celebrations.

India is estimated to be home to tens of thousands of Tibetan Buddhists who are free to study and work there. Many Indians revere the Dalai Lama, and international relations experts say his presence in India gives New Delhi a measure of leverage with China.

Relations between India and China nosedived after a deadly border clash in 2020 but are slowly improving now.

Reporting by Krishna N. Das in Dharamshala; Additional reporting by Joe Cash in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan

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A hooded man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration/FIle Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

SEOUL, July 4 (Reuters) – A systems breach at Louis Vuitton (LVMH.PA) , opens new tab Korea in June led to the leak of some of customer data including contact information, but did not involve customers’ financial information, the luxury brand’s South Korea unit said on Friday.

“We regret to inform that an unauthorized third party temporarily accessed our system resulting in the leak of some customer information,” the unit said in a statement.

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The company became aware of the breach on Wednesday and had notified government authorities, the statement said.

Measures had been taken to contain the breach and to boost system security, it added.

The South Korean units of two other labels, Christian Dior Couture and Tiffany, under the world’s largest luxury group have been under government investigations since May for customer data leaks they reported earlier in the year, according to the country’s Personal Information Protection Commission.

Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Kim Coghill

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BERLIN — China’s foreign minister downplayed European worries over rare earth exports restrictions on Thursday (July 3), saying it was standard practise to control dual-use goods exports but that Europe’s needs could be met if applications were submitted.

Wang Yi was speaking in Berlin during a joint news conference with his German counterpart, on the second leg of a European tour seeking to lay the groundwork for a summit between EU and Chinese leaders later this month.

“Rare earths have not been, are not, and will not be a problem between China and Europe, or between China and Germany,” Wang said. “If legal applications are submitted, Europe’s and Germany’s normal needs can be met.”

China, which controls over 90 per cent of global processing capacity for rare earths used in everything from automobiles to home appliances, had imposed restrictions in early April requiring exporters to obtain licenses from Beijing.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the restrictions were causing “great concern” and tarnishing China’s image in Germany as a reliable trade partner.

“We are on the path to finding sustainable joint solutions that will bring the necessary detente,” he said.

But when Wang was asked if an agreement could be reached on restrictions ahead of the EU-China summit, he said: “This is not an issue between China and Europe… controlling dual-use goods is standard practice. China and Germany both have the right to do so.”

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce already has a fast-track procedure in place to ensure that normal approvals are processed as quickly as possible, he added.

Wang came to Berlin from Brussels, where he met with EU officials including the bloc’s high representative for foreign policy Kaja Kallas, who also urged Wang to end rare earth export restrictions.

Wadephul said the two foreign ministers also discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan and the crisis in the Middle East.

“We believe China can play a constructive role in relation to Iran,” he said.

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Russia said on Thursday (July 3) it had accepted the credentials of a new ambassador of Afghanistan, making it the first nation to recognise the Taliban government of the country.

In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow saw good prospects to develop ties and would continue to support Kabul in security, counter-terrorism and combating drug crime.

It also saw significant trade and economic opportunities, especially in energy, transport, agriculture and infrastructure.

“We believe that the act of official recognition of the government of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will give impetus to the development of productive bilateral co-operation between our countries in various fields,” the ministry said.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement: “We value this courageous step taken by Russia, and, God willing, it will serve as an example for others as well.”

No other country has formally recognised the Taliban government that seized power in August 2021 as US-led forces staged a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. However, China, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Pakistan have all designated ambassadors to Kabul, in a step towards recognition.

The Russian move represents a major milestone for the Taliban administration as it seeks to ease its international isolation.

It is likely to be closely watched by Washington, which has frozen billions in Afghanistan’s central bank assets and enforced sanctions on some senior leaders in the Taliban that contributed to Afghanistan’s banking sector being largely cut off from the international financial system.

Complex history

Russia has been gradually building relations with the Taliban, which President Vladimir Putin said last year was now an ally in fighting terrorism. Since 2022, Afghanistan has imported gas, oil and wheat from Russia.

The Taliban was outlawed by Russia as a terrorist movement in 2003, but the ban was lifted in April this year. Russia sees a need to work with Kabul as it faces a major security threat from Islamist militant groups based in a string of countries from Afghanistan to the Middle East.

In March 2024, gunmen killed 149 people at a concert hall outside Moscow in an attack claimed by Islamic State. US officials said they had intelligence indicating it was the Afghan branch of the group, Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), that was responsible.

The Taliban says it is working to wipe out the presence of Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Western diplomats say the Taliban’s path towards wider international recognition is blocked until it changes course on women’s rights. The Taliban has closed high schools and universities to girls and women and placed restrictions on their movement without a male guardian. It says it respects women’s rights in line with its strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Russia has a complex and bloodstained history in Afghanistan. Soviet troops invaded the country in December 1979 to prop up a Communist government, but became bogged down in a long war against mujahideen fighters armed by the United States. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev pulled his army out in 1989, by which time some 15,000 Soviet soldiers had been killed.

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