A geopolitical game of power, technology and personal agendas | Vantage with Palki Sharma

By Palki Sharma | Vantage Global | July 2025

When you think of China’s top strategic allies in the West, Elon Musk is not the name that immediately comes to mind. And yet, in a surprising shift of global power narratives, sources within diplomatic circles and corporate insiders now suggest that Beijing has quietly thrown its weight behind the Tesla and SpaceX CEO — as a counterweight to Donald Trump.

Yes, China is backing Musk — financially, diplomatically, and strategically — and the question is: why?

A New Cold War: Not Just Nation vs. Nation, But Personality vs. Personality

Let’s take a step back. The geopolitical landscape has changed since Trump left office in 2021. But his return to the political arena in 2024, and the momentum behind a potential second presidency, has rattled not just Washington — but also Beijing.

Trump’s trade war 2.0 is already in the works, with campaign promises to slap “100% tariffs on all Chinese EVs, semiconductors and AI tech infiltrating American markets.”

Now enter Elon Musk: a globalist, a tech tycoon, and an eccentric capitalist with deep economic ties to China. His Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai is not only one of the most productive auto plants in the world — it is also a symbol of modern U.S.–China industrial interdependence.

“Trump wants to decouple. Musk wants to integrate. China is betting on the integrator,” says a Beijing-based tech policy analyst.

Musk: The Unlikely Chinese Asset?

Let’s be clear — Musk is not a Chinese agent. But from China’s perspective, he is an influential figure whose business success is aligned with Beijing’s global ambitions.

Tesla Shanghai accounts for over 40% of Tesla’s global deliveries. It is China’s gateway to exporting EVs to Europe and Asia, under the banner of an American brand.

Musk has also refused to fully support Trump’s anti-China tech agenda, staying silent on proposed semiconductor bans and AI trade restrictions.

Through SpaceX’s satellite internet network Starlink, Musk has negotiated limited, state-sanctioned access inside China, something no other Western tech executive has managed.

 

 

 

So when Trump labels China as “America’s greatest enemy”, and promises economic warfare, China finds it in its interest to strengthen ties with the one billionaire who can counterbalance Trump’s nationalist tech policy: Elon Musk.

Leverage Through Support: What Does “Backing” Really Mean?

According to leaked diplomatic briefings seen by Vantage, “backing” Elon Musk takes several forms:

Soft regulation: While China has cracked down on foreign tech giants like Apple and Microsoft, Tesla has remained largely untouched by cybersecurity probes or licensing obstacles.

Financial incentives: Tesla Shanghai has received unprecedented tax breaks and land grants, even as local competitors like Nio and BYD face stricter scrutiny.

 

 

Media elevation: Chinese state-affiliated media regularly paints Musk as a “visionary innovator”, even defending his controversial tweets and supporting his AI ventures.

Access diplomacy: While U.S. officials wait months for meetings with Chinese ministers, Musk was granted a private audience with Premier Li Qiang in early 2025, where both sides reportedly discussed “technological cooperation” in EV infrastructure and AI safety.

 

 

Is this friendship of convenience? Certainly. But one that serves both sides — for now.

The Trump–Musk Fallout: It’s Personal

To understand China’s calculus, you must understand one thing: Trump and Musk are no longer allies.

In 2022, Musk tweeted that he could no longer support Trump’s return, calling him “too divisive to be effective”. Trump, in turn, called Musk “a second-rate Edison with a weak spine.”

Their relationship has since deteriorated into open hostility:

Trump’s new campaign openly criticizes EV subsidies, calling them “China’s trojan horse” — a direct shot at Tesla.

In March 2025, Trump suggested that SpaceX’s satellite network be brought under partial Pentagon control, citing “national security concerns.”

 

 

 

Musk retaliated by pulling Starlink services from several U.S. military exercises, claiming abuse of access.

The lines were drawn. Musk is now seen by Trump’s camp as a globalist threat, while China sees Musk as a strategic bridge.

What China Stands to Gain

China’s goals are long-term and pragmatic. By backing Musk, China gets:

Continued EV exports via Tesla’s brand — bypassing Western protectionism.

Technology access — especially in battery systems, AI modeling, and satellite communication, areas where Tesla and SpaceX lead.

A Western influencer who can subtly soften anti-China narratives in Silicon Valley and beyond.

“It’s not about controlling Musk,” says a former diplomat. “It’s about creating enough mutual interest that he becomes an ally by design.”

Risks for Musk — and the U.S.

Of course, Musk is playing a dangerous game.

His deep ties with China have already drawn criticism from U.S. lawmakers. In 2024, a bipartisan Senate committee accused Tesla of “outsourcing critical manufacturing and data flow to China.”

Further, any suggestion that Musk is influenced by a foreign government could lead to legal consequences — or worse, national security intervention.

“He’s the closest thing we have to a civilian global power broker,” says Prof. Miriam Lane of Georgetown University. “But that role comes with scrutiny.”

Conclusion: The Battle Ahead

So, why is China backing Elon Musk against Trump?

Because Musk offers stability where Trump offers chaos. Because Musk builds bridges while Trump burns them. And because Musk’s success is partially China’s success, especially in a world divided by AI, chips, and carbon-neutral economies.

In this new cold war of influence, power is no longer confined to presidents and premiers. It now rests in the hands of billionaires, platforms, and data.

And China has chosen its player — not a politician, not a diplomat, but a tech mogul with a rocket in one hand and a battery in the other.

As November 2025 elections approach, one thing is clear: the future of global power won’t just be decided in Washington or Beijing — but in the boardrooms and tweets of Elon Musk.