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Elon Musk drew praise from Chinese government officials – and infuriated self-ruled Taiwan – this weekend after suggesting the democratically governed island should become a “special administrative zone” under China’s control.
Musk, whose geopolitical musings have drawn widespread criticism in recent days, argued that Taiwan should cede control to the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing to avoid a broader conflict that would upend the global economy.
“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 in an interview with Financial Times published Friday.
“And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong,” Musk added.
Musk predicted that a military conflict between China and Taiwan would likely slash the global economy by 30%. He noted that Tesla and other major companies with supply chains running through the region would be severely impacted and declared that “Apple would be in very deep trouble.”
Musk’s comments drew intense scrutiny during a period of unprecedented heightened tensions between China and Taiwan. China views the island as part of its territory and has aimed to take control of the democratically governed nation.
