The Chinese government endorsed billionaire businessman Elon Musk’s proposal to hand over control of Taiwan to Beijing by making the independent island nation a “special administrative region” of China.
Musk, the world’s richest man, has significant business interests in China, especially when it comes to manufacturing and selling his Tesla electric vehicles there. Despite those ties, he weighed in on the conflict between Beijing and Taipei by suggesting that China be given at least some control over Taiwan, which considers itself an independent nation, although it has not declared its independence.
The proposal was endorsed by Chinese leaders and condemned by Taiwanese officials.
HONG KONG’S CATHOLIC CARDINAL ZEN PROSECUTED BY CHINA
“My recommendation … would be to figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable, probably won’t make everyone happy,” Musk said during a Friday interview with the Financial Times. “And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong.”
The outlet said: “Musk reckons that conflict over Taiwan is inevitable but he is quick to point out that he won’t be alone in suffering the consequences. Tesla will be caught up in any conflict, he says.”
China’s ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, thanked Musk for his comments and seemed to endorse the billionaire’s proposal in a Saturday thread on Twitter.
“I would like to thank Elon Musk for his call for peace across the Taiwan Strait and his idea about establishing a special administrative zone for Taiwan. Actually, Peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification,” the Chinese official said. “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.”
China’s state-owned CGTN touted Qin Gang’s agreement with Musk.
Taiwan’s ambassador to the United States, Bi-khim Hsiao, criticized Musk in a tweet. “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.”
The proposal by Musk is not a new one. Over the past decades, the Chinese government has repeatedly pushed the idea that Taiwan come back under the control of Beijing as a “special administrative region.” Chinese leader Xi Jinping specifically called for this approach in a 2019 speech on Taiwan. Under such an arrangement, Taiwan’s independent national government would no longer exist, and ultimate authority would rest with the Chinese government.
Macau, formerly a Portuguese colony, and Hong Kong, formerly a British colony, are China’s two current “special administrative regions.” Hong Kong has been in the headlines in recent years as the Chinese government clamped down on pro-democracy protests in 2019 and 2020 and increased its grip on the formerly semiautonomous city, including through the deployment of a new “National Security Law.”
The State Department said this year that “China continued to dismantle Hong Kong’s political freedoms and autonomy” and has “eroded civil liberties and democratic institutions” there.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen rejected Chinese control over Taiwan in a Monday speech.
“It is regrettable that, in recent years, the Beijing authorities’ escalation of their military intimidations, diplomatic pressure, trade obstructions, and attempts to erase the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan) have threatened the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region,” Tsai said. “The broadest consensus among the Taiwanese people and our various political parties is that we must defend our national sovereignty and our free and democratic way of life. On this point, we have no room for compromise.”
“The Beijing authorities should not make any misjudgment on account of Taiwan’s vigorous democratic system. They must not mistake that there is room for compromise in the Taiwanese people’s commitment to democracy and freedom.” She added: “I want to make clear to the Beijing authorities that armed confrontation is absolutely not an option for our two sides.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The Taiwan controversy comes after Musk also weighed in on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last week, putting forth a “peace” proposal.
“Ukraine-Russia Peace: Redo elections of annexed regions under UN supervision. Russia leaves if that is will of the people. Crimea formally part of Russia, as it has been since 1783 (until Khrushchev’s mistake). Water supply to Crimea assured. Ukraine remains neutral,” Musk proposed in a Twitter poll.
This was met with disdain by Ukraine’s leaders, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responding with his own poll on Twitter, asking, “Which Elon Musk do you like more?” The options were “one who supports Ukraine” and “one who supports Russia.”
