China-appointed Panchen concludes northern Tibet tour

(TibetanReview.net, Aug13’24) – Gyaincain Norbu, the man appointed by China in 1995 to replace the government-kidnapped 11^th Panchen Lama recognized by the Dalai Lama months earlier, was back in Lhasa on Aug 11 after concluding a tour of Nagchu prefecture-city, northern Tibet.

From Jul 31 to Aug 10, “Panchen Rinpoche” went to several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Nagchu, where he participated in religious services and performed head-touching rituals for monks and believers, reported China’s official Xinhua news Agency Aug 12.

He was also stated to have attended a series of Buddhist and social activities in various localities, including a horse-racing festival and a symposium of representatives of the religious circle.

China expects him to help Sinicize Tibetan Buddhism and to play a prominent role dictated by it in the “recognition”, in future, of the reincarnation of the current Dalai Lama.

The report noted that earlier, on Jun 25, “Panchen Rinpoche” travelled from the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province to Lhasa.

During his time in Lhasa, he performed his regular duties at the Xizang Branch of the Buddhist Association of China, and conducted a series of social research and religious activities, before leaving for Nagchu on Jul 30, it said.

Xizang is the Chinese government name for Tibet Autonomous Region.

Gyaincain Norbu as the “11^th Panchen Lama” is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body. He is also vice president of the Buddhist Association of China and president of the association’s Xizang branch.

Like the 10^th Panchen Lama, China requires Gyaincain Norbu to live in Beijing, even though Shigatse city in southern Tibet is supposed to be his home and seat monastery. His yearly tours of Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas under Chinese rule have been lengthier in recent years.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts, or, indeed, the very fate of the Dalai Lama-recognized 11^th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, continues to remain one of China’s best kept secrets.