Did China’s Global Times call Elon Musk the ‘real boss of the US’ over Starlink in India?

Did China’s Global Times ask whether Elon Musk is the “real boss of the US” in response to his criticism of India? That line is circulating online, but NOWLIVO could not independently verify that the newspaper published it. Musk did question why Starlink could not begin commercial service in India and asked whether Mukesh Ambani was the “real boss of India.” The separate claim about a US tariff on Chinese electric vehicles has a factual basis, although a tariff is not the same as a ban.

What did Musk say about Starlink in India?

In an October 8, 2026, post on X, Musk said Starlink had spent five years complying with Indian requirements and asked why it still lacked approval to operate. He ended by naming Mukesh Ambani, whose Reliance group has major telecommunications interests in India. Musk had also alleged that powerful business interests were obstructing Starlink. Those allegations have not established that Ambani or Reliance caused the delay.

There is an important distinction in the licensing dispute: India says Starlink has been granted a telecom licence, but it has not completed the steps needed to start commercial service. Musk’s description of having “no license” does not reflect that distinction.

What has the Indian government said?

In a statement issued on October 8, India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the suggestion that its satellite-communications rules were being applied unfairly. It said three satellite-service providers had received licences and that security assessments were under way for all three. The ministry said a company could move to the next step of seeking spectrum assignment after completing that assessment, and described the three providers as being at broadly the same regulatory stage.

That account disputes the idea that Starlink alone has been denied a licence to protect an Indian competitor. It does not, by itself, settle every question about how long the approval process has taken. For prospective customers, the practical point is that a telecom licence does not yet mean Starlink can sell its satellite internet service in India.

What about Global Times and Chinese electric cars?

Social-media posts attribute a reply to Global Times that compares Starlink’s position in India with the difficulty Chinese carmakers face in the United States. Some versions end with a question about whether Musk is the “real boss of the US.” NOWLIVO could not confirm that wording in a Global Times article or an authenticated post from the outlet, so it should not be treated as a verified quotation or as an official statement by China.

The comparison does draw on a real US policy. The US Trade Representative raised the Section 301 tariff on electric vehicles imported from China to 100% in 2024. That is a steep import duty, not a blanket legal ban on BYD or every Chinese car company. Nor does the tariff establish that Musk personally controls US trade policy.

The verified story is therefore narrower than the viral exchange suggests: Musk challenged India’s handling of Starlink, India rejected claims of discriminatory treatment, and the United States has imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles. The attributed Global Times comeback remains unconfirmed.