Foxconn founder Terry Gou announces run for Taiwan presidency
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Mr Terry Gou must gather close to 300,000 voter signatures by Nov 2 to qualify as an independent candidate, according to election regulations.
PHOTO: AFP
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TAIPEI – Mr Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of major Apple supplier Foxconn, entering the race to be Taiwan’s next president
He stepped down as Foxconn chief in 2019 and made a presidential bid that year, but dropped out after he failed to be nominated by Taiwan’s main opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT),
Earlier in 2023, he made a second bid to be KMT’s candidate for the presidential election, but the party instead chose New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih.
Mr Gou has spent the past few weeks touring Taiwan and holding campaign-like rallies, fuelling speculation that he was planning to run as an independent.
“Under the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the past seven years or so, internationally, they led Taiwan towards the danger of war. Domestically, their policies are filled with mistakes,” he said, adding that “the era of (the) entrepreneur’s rule” has begun.
“Give me four years and I promise that I will bring 50 years of peace to the Taiwan Strait and build the deepest foundation for... mutual trust across the strait,” he said in a plea to Taiwan voters.
“Taiwan must not become Ukraine, and I will not let Taiwan become the next Ukraine.”
Mr Gou must gather close to 300,000 voter signatures by Nov 2 to qualify as an independent candidate, according to election regulations. The Central Election Commission will review the signatures and announce the results by Nov 14.
Dr Huang Kwei-bo, an associate professor of diplomacy at Taipei’s National Chengchi University and a former KMT deputy secretary-general, said Mr Gou’s candidacy risked further dividing the opposition vote.
“Any split on the non-DPP side would mean Lai’s sure victory in January,” Dr Huang said, referring to Vice-President William Lai, DPP’s candidate.
Former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the small Taiwan People’s Party has been running second in the polls, with Mr Hou third. A poll last week by the My Formosa online newspaper put Mr Gou’s support at just 12 per cent.
Mr Gou reiterated a call for unity among opposition parties, urging Mr Ko and Mr Hou to sit down with him and discuss plans to join forces to win the election against the DPP.
KMT, however, expressed its “extreme regret” over Mr Gou’s bid and urged him to support Mr Hou, the party’s candidate.
Mr Hou told reporters his “attitude towards standing for president has never changed” and that he was concentrating on pressing forward with the mission given by the party.
Mr Ko’s party said it respected Mr Gou’s right to run but was working hard on Mr Ko’s own campaign.
The run-up to the election is taking place at a time of increased tensions between Taipei and Beijing as China stages regular military exercises near the island to assert its sovereignty claims.
When asked about the issue of conflict of interest as he is a major shareholder of Foxconn, which has massive investment in China, Mr Gou said he is willing to “sacrifice” his personal assets in China in the event of a Chinese attack.
“I have never been under the control of the People’s Republic of China,” he said. “I don’t follow their instructions.”
Foxconn said in a statement that Mr Gou was no longer involved in day-to-day management of the company, having “handed over the baton” four years ago. REUTERS
