‘Shocked’ by Musk’s unexpected visit to China, India feels rejected

NEW DELHI: Elon Musk’s unexpected journey to China this week resulted in concessions for Tesla, but Indian observers viewed the move as a snub after he canceled a planned trip there earlier this month.

India’s anguished response draws attention to the growing rivalry between China and India, the two largest countries in Asia in terms of population and among the most dynamic economies in the area. Since a border skirmish in 2020 that claimed the lives of 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers, their diplomatic and business ties have been strained.

Musk canceled his meeting with Modi last week, citing “very heavy Tesla obligations,” and he was supposed to announce an investment of up to US$3 billion in an auto plant. Musk was supposed to attend a startup event that the Indian government had already invited him to by that point.

Musk arrived in China on Sunday, where he met with Premier Li Qiang and pushed plans to launch its advanced driver assistance program in the largest auto market globally.

Indian news outlets that frequently adopt a tough stance against China derided Musk’s visit.

“Here in India, everybody was shocked,” the anchor of a prime-time news broadcast on the Mirror Now news channel said in response to the question, “Shoddy ethics or simply business?”

Late on Monday, the digital news outlet News9 aired a segment titled “Hello China, Goodbye India?” about Musk. Following that, a flashing message read, “VERY HEAVY TESLA OBLIGATIONS? A week after India was canceled, China was invited.

Requests for comments were not answered by Tesla or the office of Modi. Musk stated on April 20 that he hopes to travel to India later this year. However, neither his trip cancellation nor his China visit have received a response from the Indian administration.

Musk’s visit to India may have helped Modi’s reelection campaign, since the announcement of a Tesla investment made during polling season supported Modi’s image as a business-friendly candidate running for an uncommon third term.

Geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Washington have prompted global corporations to diversify their supply chains beyond China, and Modi’s government has been courting these companies to come to India.

Musk’s travel to China was used by Modi’s detractors to attack the prime leader.

National spokesman for the main opposition Congress party, Shama Mohamed, posted on social networking platform X, “Big businesses are turning to China over India, so much is the lack of faith in the Modi govt’s regulatory policies.”

Political satirist Akash Banerjee, who hosts the YouTube channel The Patriot, questioned Musk’s decision to travel to China while lacking time to meet with Modi.

“Do you think Modi will forgive Musk from his heart?” In a video that has received 268,000 views in just 19 hours, Banerjee stated.