China’s View on Elon Musk: Visionary Leader and Occasional Villain

Elon Musk accompanies US President Donald Trump to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlighting his complex standing in China. While revered as a visionary for Tesla’s industry-leading self-driving technology and innovation in EVs, AI, and robotics, Musk faces criticism from regulators and the public over customer service issues. Additionally, the dominance of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites has raised security concerns among the People’s Liberation Army, prompting Beijing to develop domestic alternatives. Despite narrowing gaps with local rivals like Chery, which draws inspiration from Tesla, Musk remains influential. Tesla sold approximately 626,000 vehicles in China in 2025, accounting for one-fifth of its revenue. Experts note that Musk’s technological priorities align closely with Beijing’s strategic goals, sustaining his relevance. However, his social media platform X remains banned, even as he retains millions of followers on Weibo. This visit underscores the delicate balance Musk maintains between being a celebrated tech pioneer and a figure of geopolitical and regulatory scrutiny in the world’s largest EV market.