China launched against Elon Musk for supporting the theory that The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 pandemic, escaped from a laboratory from Wuhan. In accordance with CNBCthe newspaper Global Times, a subsidiary of the official newspaper of the Communist Party of China, warned Elon Musk to stop doing it. According to the official means of communication, with these sayings, the tycoon would be biting the hand that feeds him.
The above is based on Elon Musk’s response to a conspiracy theorist who claims that Anthony Fauci funded research at the Wuhan lab, where the coronavirus supposedly originated. Musk confirms that Fauci did it via the “transit organization” EcoHealthwhich unleashed the wrath of China. The Asian country has refuted this theory in recent years and ensures that these sayings have political overtones.
Although it is not the first time that Elon Musk has gotten into trouble for a tweetnow it’s different. Tesla has been unable to keep up with its competitors in China and little by little it loses ground in the Asian country. The price cuts helped the company increase its sales over the past week, although they are still far from the figures of the previous quarter.
Analysts believe that Tesla has lagged behind in its car offer and updates to satisfy the Chinese consumer. While Elon Musk wastes time tweeting conspiracy theories or political memes, electric vehicle manufacturers step on the accelerator in China. An example is BYD, which surpasses Tesla in models and continues to expand in the country.
Why Elon Musk angered China?
He tweet of Elon Musk about a virus that escaped from a Wuhan laboratory is a theory that has been around for some time. Yes ok Donald Trump was the first to accuse China of manufacturing the coronavirusthe scientific community took a different path and published a letter in Science asking for an investigation. A total of 18 researchers requested the Joe Biden government to consider the hypotheses of a natural contagion and a laboratory leak.
The subject has taken several turns since mid-2021, although a publication of Wall Street Journal brought it back to the discussion table. The report ensures that the US Department of Energy concluded that the covid-19 pandemic probably arose from a lab leak. Based on a new classified report, the agency concludes that the virus spread through a mishap at a Chinese laboratory.
The conclusion would be the result of new findings, although four agencies and a national intelligence panel refute it. According to NBCNewsthe conclusion of the Department of Energy it has not been considered significant due to the disagreements that exist between agencies on the origins of Covid.
The answer of Elon Musk to the tweet from an account that supports this theory has angered Chinese politicians. A publication of Global Times condemned the report Wall Street Journalaccusing him of being part of a disinformation campaign against China. For his part, Mao Ning, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the investigation should be based on science, not politics.
Yes Elon Musk bites the hand that feeds itWhat impact will it have on Tesla and its plans to expand in China?