Musk Praises the Achievements of the Chinese Communist Party on Its 100th Anniversary

"China's Economic Prosperity Is Truly Remarkable" Mention
Series of Praising Remarks Following Chinese Government-Level Checks
Recent Large-Scale Recalls and Vehicle Quality Issues Controversy in China

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, praised the achievements of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in relation to its 100th anniversary. Critics say this reflects his cautious approach toward China, Tesla's key market.

On the 1st (local time), Musk replied to a Xinhua News Agency Twitter post about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech on the CCP’s 100th anniversary, saying, "The economic prosperity China has achieved is truly remarkable, especially in infrastructure," and added, "I recommend visiting (China) in person."

Considering that Twitter is blocked in China, Musk posted the same message on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, clearly targeting the Chinese audience.

The post Musk commented on mentioned President Xi’s remarks about successfully eradicating absolute poverty, realizing a Xiaokang (moderately prosperous) society where all citizens enjoy comfortable and affluent lives, and building a modern socialist power.

CNN reported, "Musk applauded and lavished praise on the ruling party of China on its significant day."

This is not Musk’s first time praising China. In March, during an interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Musk said, "China’s future will be great, and it will prosper greatly as the world’s largest economy."

Such remarks are seen as reflecting a reversal in the status between Tesla and the Chinese government.

In 2018, China became the first foreign automaker to allow Tesla to establish a wholly-owned factory in Shanghai. Existing automakers had to enter the market through joint ventures, so this was an unprecedented concession. Tesla also received tax and loan benefits. At that time, Tesla held the upper hand, but the situation has changed.

Chinese authorities have declared the phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 and are promoting the electric vehicle industry, increasing scrutiny on Tesla.

Tesla recently faced controversy over vehicle defects in China. In February, Chinese transportation authorities summoned Tesla’s local executives for a "reserved interview" to reprimand them over sudden acceleration and battery fire issues. The CCP Central Committee’s Political and Legal Affairs Commission also directly criticized Tesla.

Under pressure from Chinese authorities, Tesla recalled approximately 285,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced at its Shanghai factory.

The political media outlet The Hill analyzed, "Musk’s response to Xinhua’s tweet reflects recent setbacks in Tesla’s entry into the Chinese market."

Criticism of Musk’s actions also emerged in South Korea. CNN reported, "While some netizens agreed with Musk’s remarks, others commented, ‘Elon Musk, an old Chinese Communist Party member.’"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.