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Elon Musk’s Taiwan Comments Draw Criticism as China Integration Debate Continues
Elon Musk recently shared his thoughts on the issue of Taiwan, but his remarks have sparked backlash and criticism. In an interview with CNBC’s David Faber, Musk stated, “The official policy of China is that Taiwan should be integrated. One does not need to read between the lines. One can simply read the lines. There’s a certain inevitability to the situation.”
China’s state-controlled newspaper, China Daily, highlighted Musk’s statement with the headline, “Elon Musk: Taiwan should be integrated.”The Foreign Minister of Taiwan, Joseph Wu, responded to Musk’s comments on Twitter, expressing concern about the bullying and threats from the Chinese Communist Party. Wu emphasized that China’s expansionist policy goes against the rules-based international order and the existing status quo. He also reminded Musk that there are values beyond monetary considerations.
China considers Taiwan its territory, despite Taiwan being a democratic and self-governing nation. China has even threatened to use force if necessary to gain control over Taiwan. It is worth noting that Taiwan is home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world’s largest producer of computer chips.
Warren Buffett, a renowned investor, recently sold off Berkshire Hathaway’s remaining $4 billion stake in TSMC. He cited the threat of war as a factor in his decision. Last year, Citadel CEO Ken Griffin also emphasized the importance of Taiwanese semiconductors for the United States, stating that a loss of access to them could have a significant impact on the US GDP.
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Musk previously expressed his belief that a conflict over Taiwan is inevitable and suggested the possibility of establishing a special administrative zone for Taiwan, similar to Hong Kong. China’s foreign ministry responded by reiterating its commitment to crush any attempts at Taiwanese independence and defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Musk also warned of severe consequences if China and the global economy were to be separated, comparing them to “conjoined twins.” While Tesla has a factory in Shanghai, he pointed out that many other companies would face even more significant challenges. He raised concerns about the availability of products like iPhones if the two economies were to be disconnected.
Musk’s comments have stirred controversy, drawing attention to the ongoing debate surrounding China’s integration plans for Taiwan.
