Steps taken to combat fake Living Buddhas

Authorities are setting up a database of legitimate Living Buddhas in China and will publish the information online, according to an official at the country's top political advisory body.

This will enable followers of Tibetan Buddhism to distinguish between real Living Buddhas and fake ones, the official said.

Some fake Living Buddhas have posed threats to national security, as they use money they collect to sponsor illegal or even separatist activities in Tibet.