The Dalai lama, while celebrating his birthday on July 6, expressed the hope to return to his homeland. Though China, which sees the Dalai Lama as a "separatist" for splitting Tibet, sought to control Tibetan Buddhism.

The Dalai Lama, who now lives in exile in India's Dharamshala, says only that he seeks greater autonomy for Tibet as a part of China, with guaranteed protections for Tibet’s language, culture and religion, reports said.

Last year, China began requiring Tibetans working in official government positions to renounce all ties to the Dalai Lama as a condition of employment. Authorities appear to be including monasteries under this rule, reports ANI.

According to RFA, at the beginning of July, Chinese authorities conducted searches of monasteries in Shentsa (in Chinese, Shenzha) and Sok (Suo) counties on the premise of maintaining security, a Tibetan living in exile, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

“The authorities search all the residences of the monks and the main shrines in the monasteries,” said the exile.

“The monks of Shartsa Monastery are also forced into renouncing ties with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and be a part of anti-Dalai Lama groups," the exile added.