Why choosing the next Dalai Lama could be tricky

Ahead of his 90th birthday, the Dalai Lama has finally put an end to years of speculation over what will happen after his death. The head of Tibetan Buddhism confirmed that he will have a successor, who will be chosen by a board he has set up. But the Chinese government says that only they have the authority to appoint the next Dalai Lama. So who will decide how the next Dalai Lama is chosen - and why is the position so significant?

Shawn Yuan from the BBC’s Global China Unit explains how the process of finding the next Dalai Lama has changed over the years and talks us through the strained relations between the Chinese government and the spiritual leader. And the BBC’s China Correspondent, Laura Bicker, tells us about her recent visit to a monastery in China's south-western Sichuan province, which has been at the heart of Tibetan resistance for decades.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Iqra Farooq Producers: Chelsea Coates and Josh Jenkins Editor: Julia Ross-Roy