Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump are in the Oval Office at the White House.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. House China-specific committee warned Tuesday that Beijing could try to exert leverage with Elon Musk to win favorable U.S. policy, and Washington must oppose any such efforts.
Republican committee chairman John Moolenaar and Democratic ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi said they believe the Chinese Communist Party wants to use U.S. business leaders, including Musk, who has a commercial interest in China, to negotiate with Washington.
“I do believe the CCP will try to take advantage of any opportunity for Elon Musk’s problem,” Moolenaar told the event hosted by the Brookings Institution Institution Institution.
When asked whether Congress is preventing Beijing from negotiating with white people, people say whether people will look for this and make sure his lane does not affect Chinese policy? I believe this is the case. ”Through Musk’s house.
Musk and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. China’s Embassy in Washington said China welcomes “reciprocity cooperation” with “people from all walks of life in the United States.”
“We are pleased to see foreign-funded businesses investing in and starting businesses in China, deepening their business in the Chinese market and sharing development opportunities,” Embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said via email.
China has some urgent priorities. More than a month after his second term, President Donald Trump announced 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, calling for greater restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States and naming Chinese hardwood as key Position.
Musk, the richest man in the world and one of Trump’s biggest donors in the 2024 election, may attract Beijing, a potential channel for Trump as he has become the president’s closest one of the White House advisers.
Trump appointed Musk to lead efforts to reduce the federal government.
Over the years, the billionaire has also contacted senior Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping.
China may also be able to grant him the musk he wants. His biggest commercial interest in China is the electrical car company Tesla, where he serves as CEO. Tesla delivered 36.7% of its cars to its Chinese customers last year, its second largest sales in the world.
But Tesla’s market share has declined in China as domestic electric car manufacturers grow, and it faces regulatory hurdles to launch its self-driving capabilities that can boost sales, while regulators allow Chinese companies to move forward .
In addition to Tesla, some of Musk’s other businesses, including commercial rockets and satellite company SpaceX and social media platform X – the latter banned in China – are seen as a security risk by Beijing.
Bypassing the Chinese Eagle
Krishnamoorthi told Brookings event that Beijing sees Musk as a way to bypass the Chinese Hawks, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Krishnamoorthi said: “They absolutely see him as any kind of negotiation, a way to bypass Rubio, a way to bypass waltz, which is a way to bypass those they think are in Their questions are not very friendly to them.”
“I hope the president will listen very carefully to everyone,” he said.
The MPs did not elaborate on evidence supporting their views.
The White House said Musk had no decision-making power in the Trump administration and his efficiency initiatives did not directly participate in U.S. foreign policy.
Trump’s praise of Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised concerns that he may engage in a huge bargain with Beijing. China claims the island as its territory, and Taipei has historically regarded Washington as its most important supporter and is the main stimulus for China.
Krishnamoorthi said he feared Trump would arouse core U.S. interests, such as support for Taiwan or freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, to negotiate in any direct negotiations with XI to achieve trade victory.
Moolenaar said he was confident in Trump’s national security team, but negotiations with China could achieve “limited hope” given Beijing’s failure to fulfill its past promises.
