'He's Committed To Anti-Chinese Separatist Activity': Dalai Lama's Grammy Win Draws Beijing's Ire

Last Updated:February 02, 2026, 16:23 IST

China criticises the Grammy Award given to the Dalai Lama for Meditations The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the 68th Grammy Awards

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. (File photo)

Beijing on Monday slammed the Grammy Award given to the Dalai Lama, saying it firmly opposes the Tibetan spiritual leader using the recognition to carry out what it called “anti-China activities".

The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, won his first Grammy on Sunday at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. He received the award in the category of best audio book, narration and storytelling recording for his spoken-word album ‘Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’.

Reacting to the award, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position on the Dalai Lama, accusing the 90-year-old leader of engaging in separatist activity under the cover of religion.

“The Dalai Lama is not purely a religious person," Lin told the media during a briefing in Beijing. “He is a political exile committed to anti-Chinese separatist activity under the disguise of religion."

Lin said China firmly opposes “relevant sides" using the Grammy recognition as a tool to promote activities that undermine China’s interests. He did not specify any further measures in response to the award.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since 1959, after fleeing Tibet following a failed uprising against Chinese rule. He has since been based in Dharamsala, in Himachal Pradesh. In 1989, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for what the Nobel Committee described as his consistent non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet.

At the Grammys, the Dalai Lama beat other nominees including Kathy Garver, Trevor Noah, US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Fab Morvan.

Responding to the Grammy win, the Dalai Lama expressed gratitude and said he did not view the honour as a personal achievement.

“I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility. I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility," he said in a statement.

He added that peace, compassion, care for the environment and an understanding of the oneness of humanity were essential for the well-being of all people.

“I am grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely," the Tibetan spiritual leader said.

(With inputs from PTI)

News world 'He's Committed To Anti-Chinese Separatist Activity': Dalai Lama's Grammy Win Draws Beijing's Ire

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