The Dalai Lama will deliver a video message on July 2, just days before his 90th birthday on July 6, as Tibet’s government-in-exile prepares for potential succession discussions.

The spiritual leader, based in northern India since fleeing Chinese rule in 1959, has said his milestone birthday is a moment to reflect on the future of the Dalai Lama institution. He will meet briefly with nine senior Tibetan lamas before a religious conference where his message will be played.

While China labels him a separatist, the Dalai Lama insists he is a simple monk. Many exiled Tibetans fear Beijing will appoint its own successor to strengthen control over Tibet, where Chinese forces moved in during 1950.

Having stepped down from political leadership in 2011, the Dalai Lama has said that if Tibetans support the continuation of the institution, his office — the Gaden Phodrang Trust — will oversee choosing the next reincarnation. He also insists any future Dalai Lama must be born in the “free world.”

The Dalai Lama does not seek full independence but continues to advocate for greater autonomy through his “Middle Way” approach. Identified as the 14th reincarnation at age two, his spiritual lineage spans more than 600 years.