Title: Billionaire Founder of Foxconn, Terry Gou, Announces Bid for Taiwan Presidency in 2024 Elections
Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Foxconn, shook up Taiwan’s political landscape by officially throwing his hat in the ring for the 2024 presidential race. Gou’s announcement marks his second attempt at the presidency, having previously made a bid in 2019.
Prior to his announcement, Gou’s polling numbers trailed behind William Lai, the front-runner of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. However, Gou has been holding campaign-like rallies and touring Taiwan in recent weeks, leading to widespread speculation that he would run as an independent candidate.
During his announcement, Gou criticized the DPP’s rule, accusing them of leading Taiwan towards the risk of international warfare and making domestic policy mistakes. He emphasized that removing the DPP from office is the only way to avoid conflict with China, highlighting his main campaign theme.
Gou’s bid as an independent candidate requires him to gather close to 300,000 voter signatures by November 2 to qualify. However, Huang Kwei-bo, a former deputy secretary general of the Kuomintang (KMT), believes Gou’s candidacy will further divide the opposition vote, potentially ensuring Lai’s victory in the upcoming election.
In a call for unity among opposition parties, Gou urged his fellow candidates, Ko Wen-je and Hou Yu-ih, to consider joining forces against the DPP. However, the KMT expressed regret over Gou’s decision and instead urged him to support their candidate, Hou.
Addressing concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his major shareholder position in Foxconn and its investments in China, Gou stated that he is willing to sacrifice his personal assets in China in the event of a Chinese attack. Foxconn clarified that Gou is no longer involved in the day-to-day management of the company.
As Gou’s campaign gains momentum, all eyes will be on the upcoming months as he races against time to secure the necessary support to qualify as an independent candidate. Taiwan’s political landscape has been further energized by Gou’s entrance into the presidential race, setting the stage for a highly competitive and potentially transformative election in 2024.
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