Tesla co-founder previously suggested Taiwan should become a ‘special administrative zone’ in China

Elon Musk, the owner of X/Twitter, was called out on his platform by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after calling the island nation an “integral part of China” and insisting that he understands “China well.”

Mr Musk made the comments on the “All In” podcast while answering a question about China and the future of his involvement with the nation.

During the interview, Mr Musk said “I think I understand China well,” and notes that he’s been there several times and has met with high-ranking officials.

He then turns his attention to Taiwan, and compares its relationship to China to Hawaii’s relationship to the US, insisting it is "an integral part of China that is arbitrarily not part of China”.

That comparison is flawed in two major ways: first, Hawaii is not a contested region, but is unquestionably a US state with all the same powers and freedoms granted any other US state; second, Taiwan’s assertion that it is its own state is not arbitrary, but instead a position it has held for decades.

  • jarfil@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    ·
    1 year ago

    then force full integration.

    Don’t be silly, China is a democratic country… they would hold a vote, like they did with HongKong: 99% for, 1 against. Totally democratic. 🤫

    • Buffalox@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      It’s really sad, because China was making good progress before Xi Jinping became president.

    • PersnickityPenguin@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      13
      ·
      1 year ago

      Arguably, Hong Kong is more democratic today than when it was administered as a colony under the British Crown.

      The Queen appointed a governor of Hong Kong, who himself appointed virtually the entire legislative branch. They did not have elections.

      Today 20 out of 90 legislative seats are elected, and from my limited understanding is essentially governed under a system evolved from British rule.

      You’d think Americans of all people would also hate British Rule.