As the Dalai Lama turns 90, the Tibetan spiritual leader finds himself in a tussle with China over who will succeed him. The clash is a long time in the making with the Dalai Lama insisting the Chinese government will have absolutely no say in the selection.

The Dalai Lama just turned 90-years-old, and questions about his successor are still unanswered. NBC News' Janis Mackey Frayer explains how China is weighing in on the process.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Dalai Lama is in political exile in India and accused him of engaging in “anti-China separatist activities.”