Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and founder of X Company, has previously suggested that Taiwan could be turned into a “special administrative zone” for China to prevent conflicts in the Taiwan Strait. However, during his recent appearance on the “All-In Podcast”, Musk stated that while Taiwan seeks to promote its economic and political independence, it remains “a part of China”. He further claimed that the US has prevented “any form of unification”, drawing significant public attention to his remarks.
Foreign media reports highlight Musk’s claim on the “All-In Podcast” that, “I believe I have a deep understanding of China.” Musk noted that he had visited China several times and met with high-ranking officials. He then drew a parallel between Taiwan’s relation to China and Hawaii’s relation to the U.S., firmly asserting that Taiwan is “an inseparable part of China”. Moreover, Musk mentioned that the U.S. has “hindered any form of unification efforts”.
The “Washington Observer” reports that Elon Musk issued a warning about “China’s continuously growing military strength in contrast to America’s stagnant power”. He further opined that China’s regional military strength would soon surpass that of the US and eventually lead to Taiwan’s unification with China.
Elon Musk’s comments have ignited fervent discussions across major Chinese social platforms. On Douyin (Chinese version of TikTok), some users jokingly asked Musk to share his bank account details so they could donate to the world’s richest man. Others theorized that his statements might be a move to expand Tesla’s operations in China. On Zhihu, a more rational discourse prevailed. A user named “Hei Bing” shared insights into Musk’s mindset: “Elon Musk might not necessarily have an affinity for China, but he is a rationalist. In his early years, he majored in physics and later pursued dual Ph.D. degrees in materials science and applied physics at Stanford. With such a scientific background, Musk approaches issues from an analytical standpoint, rather than being overly emotional. By doing so, he quickly recognizes the present military and industrial capabilities of China in comparison to Taiwan, and also discerns the manufacturing prowess of China versus the U.S.”
Hei Bing believed that Musk’s comments arose from a recognition of the potential dangers of future conflicts in the Taiwan Strait rather than personal gains. Hei Bing argued that Musk, with his rationale, sees the disparity in military and industrial prowess between mainland China and Taiwan, as well as between Chinese and American manufacturing.
Hei Bing further expounded on his view: “Someone who understands the real comparison of strengths wouldn’t harbor the typical American’s wishful thinking, overestimating Taiwan’s power, underestimating the challenges of overseas conflicts, or glorifying the might of the U.S., Japan, or South Korea. Such populist and overly optimistic sentiments don’t influence the judgment of a rationalist. Once one grasps the determination of the mainland and its people regarding the Taiwan issue, from a rational perspective and considering U.S. interests, engaging in large-scale warfare isn’t the best strategy. Instead, pragmatically recognizing the disparity in power and acknowledging the inevitability of Taiwan’s unification is the wise approach to reduce current U.S.-China frictions.”
Hei Bing further supported his claim by citing Elon Musk’s actions during a crucial moment in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, when Musk ordered a halt to Starlink services for the Ukrainian military. Despite Musk’s initial dismissive attitude toward Russia, a single call from President Vladimir Putin seemed to pivot his stance by 180 degrees. This shift was not due to Musk’s fondness for Russia but rather his realization of the actual capabilities of both nations and the potential implications for his businesses.
Referencing the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation signed at the end of World War II, Taiwan is indisputably part of Chinese territory, a sentiment overwhelmingly shared by the Chinese populace.