The United States has formally called on China to immediately release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima — recognised by the Dalai Lama as the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's second-highest spiritual authority — as the world marks 31 years since Chinese authorities made the then-six-year-old boy and his family disappear in 1995. The demand, issued by the US State Department, renews longstanding American pressure on Beijing over its control of Tibetan religious institutions.

What the State Department Said

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott confirmed the statement, marking the anniversary of the disappearance. 'Yesterday was the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of the Tibetan religious leader known as the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima,' Pigott said.

'Days after the Dalai Lama recognized this child as an important future Tibetan Buddhist leader, Chinese authorities disappeared him and his family. He was six years old,' he added. Pigott further demanded: 'Chinese authorities should immediately release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family and stop persecuting Tibetans or others in China for their religious beliefs.'

The Dispute Over Religious Authority

China rejected the Dalai Lama's recognition of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima in 1995 and installed a separate boy, Gyaincain Norbu, as its state-backed Panchen Lama — a move widely condemned by Tibetan Buddhists and human rights groups as political interference in sacred religious succession. The Panchen Lama holds particular significance because, by tradition, he plays a central role in identifying the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

Beijing has maintained tight control over Tibet and Tibetan Buddhist institutions for decades, asserting the right to approve or reject religious appointments — a position that puts it in direct conflict with the Tibetan exile community and its international supporters.

US Position on Tibetan Religious Freedom

The State Department reiterated Washington's commitment to religious and cultural rights for Tibetans. 'The United States supports religious freedom for Tibetans, and the freedom to preserve their unique cultural and linguistic identity,' the statement said.

The US also stressed that Tibetan Buddhists must be free to select their own spiritual leaders without interference from the Chinese Communist Party. 'Tibetan Buddhists, like members of all religious communities, should have the ability to freely select their own leaders — like the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama — according to their beliefs and without party-state interference,' Pigott said.

Broader Context and What's Next

This statement comes amid persistent tensions between Washington and Beijing over human rights in Tibet and Xinjiang. The fate of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima has remained one of the longest-running unresolved cases of enforced disappearance cited by international human rights bodies. He would be 37 years old today if alive, though China has provided no verifiable proof of his wellbeing.

With the Dalai Lama, now in his late eighties, facing questions about succession, the question of who holds legitimate authority to identify the next Dalai Lama makes the Panchen Lama's status more consequential than ever. The international community is expected to continue pressing Beijing for answers.