China Criticizes Grammy Award Given to the Dalai Lama

BEIJING — Beijing on Monday criticized the Dalai Lama's first Grammy win, describing the music industry award for an audiobook as 'a tool for anti-China political manipulation'. The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, who lives in exile in India, received the award on Sunday for his book, 'Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama'. He stated that he saw the recognition as a celebration of 'shared universal responsibility'. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denounced the award, claiming the Dalai Lama is 'a political exile engaged in anti-China separatist activities under the guise of religion'. The Dalai Lama has lived in exile since 1959 when Chinese troops suppressed an uprising in Lhasa, and tensions continue over the issue of his potential successor, with Beijing and the spiritual leader holding conflicting views on how the next Dalai Lama will be identified.