Taiwanese tycoon Terry Gou hasn’t ruled out presidential run, judging by his Washington Post op-ed: analysts

Name: ‘One China’ explained
Uploaded: 2023-07-18T14:00:23.000Z
Duration: 2 min 17 s
Description: ‘One China’ explained

The Foxconn founder touts one-China framework and takes ruling DPP to task, suggesting he would better manage cross-strait ties, experts say

Local media expect the billionaire to announce bid next month as an independent candidate after failing to secure KMT nomination

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In an opinion article, Foxconn’s Terry Gou (centre) said Taiwan’s current leaders had “greatly aggravated the threat of war”. Photo: Facebook / Terry Gou

Lawrence Chungin Taipei

Published: 10:00pm, 18 Jul 2023Updated: 1:46am, 19 Jul 2023

Taiwanese billionaire Terry Gou has touted the one-China framework as the best formula to avert a potential cross-strait conflict, a move experts say shows he has not given up on running in the island’s presidential election.

The Foxconn founder had hoped to represent the island’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang, in the January race but failed to win the nomination. The KMT picked New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih as its candidate in May.

Most opinion polls in Taiwan, however, have put Hou in last place, trailing not only vice-president William Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) but also former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party, raising hopes for Gou to run.

In an opinion piece published by The Washington Post on Monday, Gou said the independence-leaning DPP’s policy of abandoning the one-China framework has turned the island into one of the most dangerous flashpoints for war in the world.

“The current DPP leadership has only made the situation more tense,” Gou said.

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‘One China’ explained

Since being elected leader in 2016, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has refused to accept Beijing’s interpretation of the 1992 consensus and the one-China principle.