CHINA has decided to select its own reincarnation of the panchen lama, the second highest Tibetan religious leader, and to ignore the Dalai Lama's choice.
Sources say senior lamas have been summoned to Beijing this month and told to prepare to hold a divination lottery using a golden urn.
'They were told the ceremony could be held soon, very soon, but no date has been set,' one source said.
The lamas were apparently told Beijing would not include the boy proclaimed the new panchen lama by the Dalai Lama in May.
'This is what I have heard is likely, too. It means the Chinese are opting for confrontation,' said Robbie Barnett, editor of the Tibet Information Network in London.
If Beijing does go ahead there will be two rival panchen lamas.