Trump-Musk splits over 'China issue'

[Anchor]
The relationship between U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk is getting closer.

However, as the "China issue" becomes the biggest variable in the relationship between the two, it is predicted that it may eventually split.

Reporter Kwon Young-hee reports.

[Reporter]
Trump has been tough on China throughout the election.

It has declared that it will impose tariffs of up to 60% on Chinese imports.

[U.S. President-elect Donald Trump: If China or any other country does something bad, we will impose something very serious: tariffs.]

Since his election, he has intensively deployed ultra-hardliners from China to the diplomatic and security lines.

Sen. Marco Rubio, nominated for secretary of state, calls for China to withdraw its treatment of the most favored nation.

National Security Adviser nominee Rep. Mike Waltz openly calls China the "Chinese Communist Party" and says the U.S. and China have entered the Cold War.

Howard Rutnick, co-chairman of the transition committee, who has been selected as commerce secretary, has also expressed his preference for "targeted tariffs" and wants to do business with China as well.

Musk's position is a little different.

Tesla has a large factory in Shanghai, China, with sales in the country accounting for 23% of total sales.

We also oppose tariffs on electric vehicles from China.

[Tesla CEO Elon Musk: It's great to see electric vehicles growing in China. All future cars will be electric.]

Because of this, Musk could be the biggest variable regarding the Trump administration's China policy.

Some predict that Musk may play the same role as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who normalized U.S.-China relations.

On the contrary, there is also an opinion that two people with strong arguments will collide.

[SOAS China Lab Director Steve Chang: Elon Musk is just a guest invited to work for Trump. Between what's best for Trump and what's best for Musk, Trump always wins.]

Newsweek reported that Musk's relationship with China could hurt his relationship with Trump and his position in the Cabinet, and that the two could break up.

I'm YTN's Kwon Younghee.

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video: Lim Hyun-chul