China to Regulate Reincarnation

According to an MSNBC article, China has introduced legislation banning the reincarnation of Buddhist Monks without government permission. While seemingly humorous from the outside, the law would allow China to control the identity of the next Dalai Lama - something directly connected to controlling the destiny of Tibet.

The current Dalai Lama refuses to reincarnate in Tibet as long as it is controlled by China, leading one to speculate the next Dalai Lama might be born to a Tibetan living in the United States or India. The political ramifications of this are monumental; there could be two spiritual/political leaders for Tibet: one recognized by China, the other by the Monks.