SpaceX CEO Elon musk confirmed the Chinese government does not want him selling Starlink internet services in the country.
Musk made the comments in an interview with the Financial Times this week.
According to Musk, “Beijing has disapproved of his recent rollout of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite communications system, in Ukraine to help the military circumvent Russia’s cut-off of the internet. He says Beijing sought assurances that he would not sell Starlink in China,” the article explains.
Musk did not confirm if he agreed to the request, but it is a complicated situation for Musk. Especially as Musk’s vision for Taiwan puts him at odds with the central government.
Musk noted in the interview with the Financial Times that his recommendation for Taiwan would be:
To figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable probably won’t make everyone happy.
In response, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China noted:
We remain committed to the basic principle of peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems and aim to work with the greatest sincerity and effort to achieve peaceful reunification. At the same time, we will resolutely defeat attempts to pursue the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist agenda, push back interference by external forces, and safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.
At least to say, we do not think that Starlink will be selling into China anytime soon.
