China responded after a minister in the Indian government said that the next leader of Tibetan Buddhism should be decided in accordance with the Dalai Lama's wishes and Tibetan traditions.

China issued a warning to India after an Indian minister said only the Dalai Lama and Tibetan tradition could decide who would be the next leader of Tibetan Buddhism. Beijing, which views the Dalai Lama as a dangerous player and seeks to tighten its grip on him, is a position that runs counter to Beijing.