Recent speculation circulating on the internet claims that SpaceX, a space technology company owned by Musk, is requesting 46 Taiwanese factories that produce Starlink satellites to move their production lines out of Taiwan in order to mitigate geopolitical risks. However, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs clarified in a press release on the 11th that they did not receive any request from SpaceX to relocate factories from Taiwan around the time of the recent U.S. election, dismissing it as disinformation likely originating from the Chinese Communist Party’s information warfare tactics.
Observers have analyzed that the Chinese Communist Party is spreading disinformation to sow doubt about the United States, particularly aiming to undermine the relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan during the transition period before Trump officially steps down. Such cognitive warfare through false information lacks credibility and is unlikely to serve its intended purpose.
A video circulating on TikTok recently claimed that Elon Musk demanded the relocation of 46 Starlink satellite factories from Taiwan, threatening their expulsion from SpaceX’s supply chain. Allegations were made about mass job losses due to these relocations, prompting protests from the Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs.
In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs issued a press release on the 11th, stating that they have been in contact with the relevant Taiwanese factories. These factories affirmed that adjusting production schedules to meet global customer demands has been a routine practice, emphasizing that no request was received from SpaceX to move factories out of Taiwan around the period of the U.S. election.
The news circulated on TikTok was written in simplified Chinese characters, leading the Ministry of Economic Affairs to believe it was part of disinformation efforts originating from Beijing, quite glaringly evident by the use of “simplified Chinese” without conversion to traditional characters.
The Ministry emphasized that Taiwan has autonomous research and development capabilities in satellite ground receiving equipment, competitive manufacturing capacity, and no indication of production relocation. They believe that short-term political factors are unlikely to impact international cooperation between satellite businesses and Taiwanese manufacturers, attributing Taiwan’s ability to adapt swiftly to the evolving landscape of global supply chain distribution amid the backdrop of U.S.-China technological rivalry, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain diversification trends in recent years.
Former Dean of Political Warfare College at Taiwan’s National Defense University, Major General Yu Zong-ji, expressed in an interview with Dajiyuan that it is evident someone is manipulating the so-called “doubts about America,” creating a narrative that Taiwan would be at greater risk with Trump in power, potentially making deals with China and betraying Taiwan. By fostering a sense of distrust towards the U.S. among various sectors in Taiwan before Trump’s inauguration, the primary goal is to undermine the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
Regarding Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs prompt clarification, Major General Yu stated that the incident has stirred up significant attention within Taiwan. Not only related industries such as TSMC but also companies like Foxconn owned by Terry Gou have been rumored to face retaliation with Trump’s presidency, affecting related industries’ stock prices.
Zhao Junshuo, speaking for the U.S.-China-Taiwan situation room, mentioned to Dajiyuan that Musk’s substantial support and innovative campaigning tactics for Trump throughout the election have garnered global attention, positioning him as a significant contributor to Trump’s electoral success. Furthermore, with Musk’s Tesla Gigafactory being the largest in the world located in Shanghai, many in Taiwan question Musk’s intentions and potential influence on Trump regarding China’s policies.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press on Tuesday (12th), sources revealed that Trump intends to appoint two Republican lawmakers from Florida to key positions: Senator Marco Rubio is expected to become the U.S. Secretary of State, while Representative Mike Waltz is anticipated to assume the role of National Security Advisor. Zhao Junshuo believes that considering Trump’s successive announcements of new government appointees, all of whom are hawks on China and some are pro-Taiwan, rumors and speculation can easily be debunked.
Continuing on his analysis, Zhao argued that it is implausible for such a bombshell to emerge immediately after the U.S. election. Relocating supply chains requires a substantial evaluation and preparation period, and making abrupt decisions could result in significant losses and disruptions. Therefore, the disinformation tactics employed by the Chinese Communist Party lack credibility and are unlikely to have any meaningful impact.
Addressing the rumors alleging that Musk’s Starlink service is unavailable in Taiwan, SpaceX posted on social media in late October, stating that the unavailability is purely due to a lack of relevant licenses and the requirement for the majority of shares in Taiwanese satellite network service providers to be held by local investors.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Development also stated, “Various international satellite systems are welcome to enter the Taiwanese market.” The ministry mentioned that companies compliant with Taiwan’s laws may apply, without specifically naming the Starlink company.
In response, Zhao Junshuo pointed out that Taiwan’s regulations stipulate that satellite companies must form joint ventures with local Taiwanese firms rather than sole ownership, hence the absence of Starlink’s service in Taiwan. Nevertheless, some individuals deliberately sensationalize it as negative news.
Major General Yu noted that Musk’s significant contributions during Trump’s election campaign have undoubtedly earned him influence over Trump’s future foreign policy decisions. While Musk has made some unfriendly comments towards Taiwan in the past, including predicting Taiwan’s eventual unification with China, it has been exploited by certain factions to manipulate and influence public opinion.
“In reality, Musk is a businessman conducting business in China, hence he may echo the Chinese Communist Party’s narratives, but this doesn’t necessarily reflect his personal beliefs. It’s essential for everyone to understand this,” Yu emphasized.