Elon Musk Reportedly Planning China Visit Next Month To Meet With Xi's No. 2

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is planning to visit China in April where he has sought a meeting with a senior government official, Reuters reported Friday, as the billionaire increasingly finds himself in the middle of growing tensions between Beijing and Washington. Reuters, citing unnamed sources with "Knowledge of planning for the trip," reported that Musk has sought a meeting with China's new Premier Li Qiang, a close ally of President Xi Jinping, who recently stepped up efforts to re-energize foreign investments in China after more than two years of harsh Covid restrictions. China is home to Tesla's largest manufacturing facility and the electric vehicle maker's largest market outside the U.S. Musk's reported trip would come at a time of surging diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and China. In response, the state-controlled Global Times warned Musk against proverbially biting the hand that feeds him-referencing China's importance to Tesla-while accusing him of promoting a "Conspiracy theory that slanders China." Musk did not publicly react to this controversy. Last week, the billionaire's mother, Maye Musk, made her first visit to China, causing a stir on Chinese social media. According to the South China Morning Post, Musk has achieved celebrity status in China, owing to the popularity of the Chinese version of her memoir, A Woman Makes a Plan: Advice for a Lifetime of Adventure, Beauty, and Success. Exclusive: Elon Musk plans China visit, seeks meeting with premier.