Dalai Lama states his Trust will spearhead the search for his successor.

On Wednesday, the Dalai Lama stated that a non-profit he established will be the exclusive authority to acknowledge his future reincarnation, refuting China’s claim that it will determine the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

The comments by the leader, who will turn 90 on Sunday, were made during a week of festivities to celebrate his birthday. China did not provide an immediate response. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who escaped from Tibet in 1959 following a thwarted rebellion against Chinese authority, to be a separatist.

The Dalai Lama has stated before that his successor will be born outside of China and encouraged his followers to dismiss anyone selected by Beijing.

“I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Dalai Lama said in a statement.

He added that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the non-profit that he set up to maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama, has the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation in consultation with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

“They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition … no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said.