On August 12, Donald Trump warned that China's nuclear capabilities – although still inferior to those of the US – could surpass those of the world's leading superpower "sooner than people think."
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| Former US President Donald Trump (right) had a conversation with leading tech billionaire Elon Musk (left) on August 12 on the social media platform X. (Source: AFP) |
The Republican presidential candidate shared the comment during a live chat on social media platform X with leading tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Musk publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump last month and pledged to donate $45 million a month to the Republican candidate's re-election efforts.
The live-streamed conversation, despite a 40-minute delay due to "a major DDoS (denial of service) attack," eventually went on for two hours, covering a range of hot topics such as the failed assassination attempt on Trump, Biden's abrupt decision to end his re-election campaign, immigration, and crime.
When asked to assess the immediate risks that the United States might face, Trump asserted that "the escalating nuclear arms race" was one of his biggest concerns.
"We possess significant nuclear capabilities, and you know, perhaps some other countries are getting closer to that goal, which is very dangerous. That's when our country needs a strong president...", Trump emphasized.
At the same time, he warned that although China's nuclear capabilities are still inferior to those of the US, "they will catch up with us sooner than anyone thinks... Eventually, they will catch up, and may even surpass us."
Trump also criticized the political skills of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, saying the current Vice President was "not capable" of leading. He said Harris, if elected, would not know how to deal with China.
The conversation between America's leading billionaire and the Republican presidential candidate marked Trump's return to social media.
Billionaire Musk had previously restored Trump's X account, which had been suspended due to the risk of inciting violence related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
However, the two also have some opposing views on certain issues. While Trump emphasizes his desire to reinstate permits for oil and gas drilling in the US, billionaire Elon Musk has a more moderate stance.
The tech billionaire said that while he didn't want to "condemn the oil and gas industry and the people who have worked so hard in those industries... but over time, America needs to move to a sustainable energy economy ."
Regarding electric vehicles, it's surprising that Elon Musk didn't mention Trump's promises to impose tariffs on electric cars imported from China.
As the founder and CEO of Tesla, America's leading electric car manufacturer, billionaire Elon Musk has a particular interest in the Chinese market. In 2019, Tesla opened its first factory in Shanghai, boosting the market share of American electric vehicles in China. The company's success has brought Musk closer to Chinese leaders.
In April 2024, the tech billionaire made a surprise visit to Beijing and met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Speaking afterward, Li Qiang praised the American billionaire as a "model of success" in economic partnership with the world's leading superpower.
Earlier, in January 2024, billionaire Elon Musk warned that Chinese automakers would "destroy" global competition if trade barriers were not in place. However, he later criticized the Biden administration's tariffs on electric vehicles.
The US announced an additional 100% tariff on automobile exports from China in May of this year. The White House justified this decision by arguing that "Beijing's unfair trade practices are targeting strategic sectors of Washington."
"Neither Tesla nor I requested this tariff. In fact, I was surprised when it was announced. Anything that hinders free trade or distorts the market is not good. Tesla is competing quite well in the Chinese market without tariffs and without differential subsidies. I support not imposing tariffs," commented the world's richest man.
However, Tesla is facing competitive challenges in China. In June 2024, the consulting firm Counterpoint Research estimated that Chinese rival BYD would surpass the American manufacturer in sales this year.
BYD's sales in the second quarter of this year increased by nearly 21%, reaching 426,039 units sold, according to CNBC . In contrast, Tesla lost market share during the same period, declining by 4.8% with 443,956 vehicles sold.
Meanwhile, Trump has been a strong critic of electric vehicles. In March 2024, the Republican candidate wrote on his personal account on the social media platform Truth Social that American auto workers would face a "bloodbath" if he didn't win the election and imposed further tariffs on China.
However, at the Republican National Convention in July, after officially accepting the party's nomination, Trump adjusted his stance on the issue. He accused China of exploiting the USMCA – a free trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada – by building “large electric vehicle factories… across the Mexican border” and pledged to impose tariffs of up to 200% on cars manufactured there.
But Trump also left open the possibility of exempting Chinese companies from building factories on American soil, stating: "These factories will be built in America and our people will be in control."
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/doi-thoai-voi-ty-phu-elon-musk-ong-trump-canh-bao-nang-luc-hat-nhan-cua-trung-quoc-se-som-vuot-my-281994.html
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