Topics: Elon Musk, Politics, World News, China, Technology
Elon Musk has a knack for p***ing people off, and as it turns out, that knack also extends to entire nations.
Earlier this month, the world’s richest man waded in on the current tensions between China and Taiwan, suggesting the two governments ‘figure it out’.
For anyone out of the loop, China claims Taiwan is a province and has threatened forceful annexation if Taiwan doesn’t comply with being unified with the mainland, whereas Taiwan insists it’s an independent nation.
Musk acknowledged that his ‘recommendation’ probably wouldn’t ‘make everyone happy’, but went ahead and gave it anyway.
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Speaking to the Financial Times, Musk said: “My recommendation … would be to figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable, probably won’t make everyone happy.
“And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong.”
The billionaire’s remarks were – unsurprisingly – welcomed by China, with Qin Gang, China’s ambassador to the US, saying on Twitter that the ‘peaceful one country two systems’ model used in Hong Kong was the ‘basic principle for resolving the Taiwan question’.
Qin Gang added: “Provided that China's sovereignty, security and development interests are guaranteed, after reunification Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region, and a vast space for development.”
However, Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to Washington, fired back on Twitter: “Taiwan sells many products, but our freedom and democracy are not for sale."
Hsiao added: "Any lasting proposal for our future must be determined peacefully, free from coercion, and respectful of the democratic wishes of the people of Taiwan.”
Taiwan sells many products, but our freedom and democracy are not for sale. Any lasting proposal for our future must be determined peacefully, free from coercion, and respectful of the democratic wishes of the people of Taiwan.
— Bi-khim Hsiao 蕭美琴 (@bikhim) October 8, 2022
Speaking to Bloomberg in the wake of Musk’s comments, the mainland affairs council pointed out that Taiwan had worked with Tesla for a long time and that Musk’s remarks were ‘based on investment interests to turn a democratic country into a special administration’.
Meanwhile, former Taiwan president Ma Ying-jeou said: “Elon Musk’s opinion means ‘one country two systems’. I cannot accept this.”
Musk was also criticised by candidates in the upcoming Taipei mayoral race, many of whom go on to become presidential candidates.
Chen Shih-chung, who is the candidate from the Democratic Progressive Party, called Musk’s comments ‘ill-informed and belittling’.
He said: “Elon Musk has brought about revolutionary change through Tesla and SpaceX, even aiding Ukraine against the Russian dictatorship through Starlink.
“I’m calling on Elon to hold himself to the same democratic values regarding Taiwan.”
UNILAD has approached Musk for comment.
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