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Podcast: Front Burner
Episode:

Will a 'Free Tibet' die with the Dalai Lama?

Category: News & Politics
Duration: 00:27:05
Publish Date: 2025-07-10 08:10:00
Description:

The Dalai Lama has spent almost his entire adult life as a refugee from his homeland of Tibet. Fleeing Chinese persecution in the 1950s, he has built a nation in exile, striving to preserve Tibetan culture as not just the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, but as a global ambassador for his people's cause.


But he knows a transition is coming. On his 90th birthday this week, the Dalai Lama announced plans for how his successor will be chosen after his death. Since that successor will be a child, that means years of power vacuum that China is almost certain to capitalize on, including attempting to name a rival Dalai Lama of their own.


Mujib Mashal is the South Asia bureau chief with the New York Times. He explains what's at stake for the people of Tibet — and Asian geopolitics more broadly — in the coming power struggle when the Dalai Lama passes on.


For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

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