Elon Musk, a product of the American capitalist system doing business with Communist China. Simply put businesses don’t care about politics and ideologies. Mr. Musk is smart enough to know that after the U.S., China is the largest market for his Tesla electric vehicles, and he has plans to further capitalize on this market.
Amid ongoing US-China tensions, and after three years, the multi-billionaire and Chairman and owner of Tesla Motors and Twitter, Mr. Elon Musk, recently visited China on 30th May 2023 for a three-day trip. A visionary American entrepreneur and one of the richest in the world, the visit was purely private and business-like. Upon his arrival, he received a warm reception with full protocol from Chinese government officials.
He was also scheduled to visit Tesla’s massive production plant in Shanghai, and he spoke with China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang shortly after his arrival. It is believed he also met with Chinese Minister of Industry Jin Zhuanglong later that day.
Musk’s unannounced trip was the latest by a major U.S. CEO to China since the country reversed its zero-COVID policy and reopened its borders.
Elon Musk is visiting Communist China! What’s going on? A caption circulating as stated in a series of tweets that have gone viral since then. You can imagine the American public’s reaction when photographs of his visit and meetings with high-level government officials appeared in the media, utter confusion, with Americans trying to figure out what exactly is going on. A product and idol of the American capitalist system doing business with Communist China? Simply put businesses and big bucks don’t care about politics and ideologies. Mr. Musk is smart enough to know that after the U.S., China is the largest market for his Tesla electric vehicles, and he has plans to further capitalize on this market.
In a statement, the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Musk, as comparing US-China interests to conjoined twins and as saying Tesla opposed “decoupling” of the world’s two biggest economies.
What is worth mentioning here is that during his talks with Miao Wei, the Chinese Minister for Information and Industry Technology (MIIT), he was dealing with a man who knew his job and what he was talking about. A seasoned technocrat! In China, you don’t become a Minister without experience and impeccable qualifications, and here, Mr. Wei would be knowing all about electric vehicles, something Musk would have to take into consideration while negotiating.
Contrary to the United States, where political appointees in the administration are more or less based on campaign contributions, ideology, lobbying, and so on. Buttigieg, President Biden’s nomination for Secretary of Transportation, is one example. There are no qualifications for the job!
In a world with continuous challenges and innovations, you need people with the right pedigree and experience to negotiate, and Musk’s meeting with Miao Wei has proved that point.
