China says boy picked by Dalai Lama now a college graduate

China said Tuesday that a boy who disappeared 25 years ago after being picked by Dalai Lama as Tibetan Buddhism’s second-highest figure is w a college gruate with a stable job.

Very little information has been given about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima or his family since he went missing at 6 shortly after being named 11th Panchen Lama.

China, which claims that Tibet is part of its territory, named ar boy to position, Gyaltsen rbu, who is rarely seen and is believed to spend most of his time in Beijing. He is generally viewed as a political figure under Beijing's control and shares ne of Dalai Lama's global fame.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Gedhun Choekyi Nyima “received free compulsory education when he was a child, passed college entrance examination and w has a job." Zhao said neir w-31-year-old man or his family wishes to be disturbed in ir “current rmal lives.” or details were given.

tussle between Beijing and Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in 1959, concerns who will determine future of Tibetan Buddhism, which still commands heavy sway over people of Himalayan region that China says has been its territory for centuries but which many Tibetans believe was largely independent.

Tibet’s self-declared government-in-exile in India marked 25th anniversary of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima's disappearance by calling on Beijing on Sunday to account for his whereabouts.

“China’s abduction of Panchen Lama and forcible denial of his religious identity and right to practice in his monastery is t only a violation of religious freedom but also a gross violation of human rights,” Tibetan parliament in rrn India, kwn as Kashag, said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also issued a statement on Monday calling on China to “immediately make public Panchen Lama’s whereabouts and to uphold its own constitution and international commitments to promote religious freedom for all persons."

Dalai Lama named original Panchen Lama with help of Tibetan lamas trained in reing portents and signs. China claims reincarnate can only be chosen by pulling lots from a golden urn, a method it used to pick its own candidate under control of officially aistic ruling Communist Party.

Tritionally, Panchen Lama has served as teacher and aide to Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhism’s highest leer who is w 84 and is accused by Beijing of seeking independence for Tibet. Dalai Lama denies that and says he vocates greater automy for region.

(Representative Im)