Tibet

The Dalai Lama announced that he would formally relinquish his political leadership role in the Tibetan exile government and devolve authority to an elected prime minister. In response, a Chinese FM spokeswoman dismissed the announcement as "tricks to deceive the international community", while the Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile lamented, "Despite His Holiness' request, the people and the government do not feel competent to lead ourselves".