The Dalai Lama’s successor will be born outside China, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism says in a new book, raising the stakes in a dispute with Beijing over control of the Himalayan region he fled more than six decades ago.

The Tibetan Buddhist leader said the choice of a successor should be made according to traditional practices and that lamas, in which monks would conduct the search, setting up a clash with Beijing’s communist rulers.

It marks the first time the Dalai Lama has specified his successor would be born in the "free world", which he describes as outside China.

The Dalai Lama published a book yesterday that he says is a “framework for the future of Tibet”, to guide compatriots in relations with Beijing after his death.

A new book by the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will raise the stakes in a decades-long dispute with Beijing over control of the Himalayan country.

The Dalai Lama's new book reveals his successor will be born outside China, challenging Beijing's control over Tibet's spiritual leadership. Beijing rejects his statement, insisting it has the authority to select the next Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama's latest book reveals his successor will be born outside China, intensifying tensions with Beijing, which insists on selecting the next spiritual leader. The 89-year-old outlines the continuation of the Dalai Lama institution,

A new book by the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism is raising the stakes with Beijing by saying the next Dalai Lama will be born outside China.

In his new book, the 14th Dalai Lama claims that his successor would be born in “a free world” which was outside China.