China on Monday criticised the decision to confer a Grammy Award on the Dalai Lama, stating that it “firmly opposes” what it sees as the use of the international honour to advance activities that Beijing characterises as “anti-China.” The reaction followed the announcement that the Tibetan spiritual leader Tenzin Gyatso had won his first-ever Grammy at the Grammy Awards, held this year in Los Angeles.
The 90-year-old leader received the award in the Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording category at the 68th annual ceremony for his spoken-word album, Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The honour was announced on Sunday, marking a notable milestone in the Dalai Lama’s long public life, during which his teachings on peace, compassion, and ethical living have reached audiences across the world.
The album brings together the Dalai Lama’s reflections on mindfulness, inner harmony, and shared human values, presented through spoken narration and complemented by musical elements and collaborations with several artists. The nomination itself was unusual, placing a spiritual and philosophical work alongside recordings by well-known public figures, including Trevor Noah and Ketanji Brown Jackson, highlighting the growing recognition of spoken-word storytelling in mainstream cultural platforms.
Reacting to the award at a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position on the Dalai Lama. He asserted that China does not regard the Dalai Lama as a purely religious figure, but rather as a political exile. According to Lin, the Dalai Lama is “engaged in anti-Chinese separatist activities under the guise of religion,” and China strongly objects to any party using an international award to promote what it considers actions hostile to the Chinese state.
Lin further emphasised that China “firmly opposes relevant sides” leveraging the Grammy recognition to legitimise or amplify such activities. The statement reflects Beijing’s consistent view on the Tibetan leader and its sensitivity to any global platform that appears to endorse him.
The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism, fled Tibet in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule and has lived in India ever since. Over the decades, he has become a global symbol of non-violence, dialogue, and compassion, earning widespread admiration as well as international honours. His Grammy win adds a cultural dimension to that recognition, while also underscoring the enduring geopolitical tensions surrounding Tibet, its spiritual leadership, and China’s objections to the Dalai Lama’s global prominence.
