Vivek Ramaswamy, a vocal critic of Elon Musk’s ties to China, has expressed strong opposition to Musk’s business dealings with the Chinese government in the past. The co-chair of the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Musk, Ramaswamy frequently criticized Musk’s remarks and business decisions related to China, even referring to him as a “circus monkey” and a puppet for the Chinese Communist Party.
Ramaswamy’s critiques, reviewed by CNN’s KFile, often targeted Musk’s 2022 comments suggesting that Taiwan should become a special administrative region of China, a position aligned with Beijing’s stance. This comment, as well as Tesla’s investments in China, sparked backlash from Ramaswamy, who argued that Musk was pandering to the Chinese government for business advantages, such as regulatory approvals and tax breaks. “Tesla is increasingly beholden to China,” Ramaswamy stated in May 2023.
Despite these public critiques, Ramaswamy and Musk are now working together in DOGE, an initiative aimed at reducing federal regulations and the federal workforce. This collaboration, however, has raised questions about how their previously divergent views on China might impact their shared goals. While Musk has favored closer ties with China, Ramaswamy has advocated for an economic decoupling from the country.
Ramaswamy’s criticisms of Musk’s approach to China, particularly regarding Tesla’s reliance on the Chinese market, are well-documented. He accused Musk of tailoring his political positions to appease China, noting how Musk’s remarks on Taiwan were followed by favorable business treatment in China, such as tax breaks for Tesla’s Shanghai plant.
In recent years, Ramaswamy also criticized Musk’s statements that the U.S. and China were “intertwined like conjoined twins,” accusing Musk of bowing to Chinese authority. Despite their past tensions, Ramaswamy now states that he and Musk have developed a mutual respect and understanding, with Ramaswamy defending Musk’s risks and contributions to innovation.
As Ramaswamy campaigns for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, he continues to express skepticism about U.S.-China economic ties. However, his collaboration with Musk in DOGE calls into question how their differing stances on China will influence their efforts to reshape U.S. government policy.
