Elon Musk’s statement that Taiwan is part of China has been met with Taiwan firmly asserting that it is “not for sale.”
“Listen up, Taiwan is not part of the PRC [People’s Republic of China] & certainly not for sale!,” foreign minister Joseph Wu said on Mr Musk’s X.
During a business summit this week, Elon Musk made a controversial comparison, likening Taiwan to Hawaii and describing it as an “integral part” of China.
This statement further strained relations between Beijing and Taipei, as China claims sovereignty over self-governed Taiwan. Tensions in the region have escalated in the past year, with China frequently conducting military drills around the island.
In response to these drills, Taiwan reported detecting over 40 Chinese military aircraft and around 10 ships in its waters.
Elon Musk’s comments are not the first to provoke Taiwan’s government. In October, he suggested a potential solution to the Beijing-Taipei tensions by proposing that China be granted some level of control over Taiwan.
This proposal was met with criticism from Taiwanese officials, who reiterated their commitment to freedom and sovereignty.
It’s worth noting that Elon Musk has business interests in China, which adds a layer of complexity to his statements on Taiwan.
Mr Wu also posted on X: “Hope Elon Musk can also ask the CCP [Chinese Community Party] to open X to its people.” Mr Musk’s micro-blogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is banned in China.
Mr Wu had previously said that China’s military drills were intended to influence Taiwan’s elections in January.
“The PRC [People’s Republic of China] has made it clear it wants to shape Taiwan’s coming national election. Well, it’s up to our citizens to decide, not the bully next door,” he wrote on X.
Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, operates a substantial manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China.
During his most recent visit to China in May, Musk held meetings with senior Chinese officials, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tesla was interested in expanding its operations within the country.
Musk’s visit garnered significant attention due to the strained relations between the United States and China in recent years. Although the two nations have resumed high-level discussions, they continue to have disagreements on various matters, with Taiwan being a prominent point of contention.
Taiwan has become a major source of tension between the two nations, as the United States has long been a key ally of Taipei.