Tibet’s exiled Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama has pointed to what he called China’s “ruthless policy” as prompting the recent deaths of Tibetan monks who set themselves on fire in protest.

He called on Beijing to change its approach to ruling over the Himalayan region.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate was speaking during a trip to Japan to visit victims of this year’s devastating tsunami.

At least nine Tibetans in their late teens and 20s have self-immolated since March in protest at Chinese rule. Many Tibetans consider the Dalai Lama as their rightful leader.

Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of encouraging the immolations.

The Dalai Lama fled the Himalayan region in 1959 amid an abortive anti-Beijing uprising and is reviled by China’s communist government.