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Terry Gou, the Man Who Made iPhones, Makes Another Bid for Taiwan Presidency
Updated: Jan 8
Taiwan's Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Foxconn, the major Apple Inc supplier, has announced his bid for the presidency of Taiwan. Gou, who is 72 years old, has previously made two unsuccessful attempts at the presidency.
He aims to unite the fractured opposition and address the rising tensions with China, which he blames on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's hostility towards Beijing.
In a press conference, Gou criticised the DPP-led government for its failure to resolve the challenges facing Taiwan's industries and people's lives. He stated, "Over the past seven years, the DPP government has not only brought Taiwan dangerously close to war but has also pursued flawed domestic policies." Gou referred to himself as "Taiwan's CEO" and emphasised his business acumen and ability to attract market confidence-oriented voters.
Gou faces the challenge of getting the two main opposition parties, the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Taiwan People's Party, to work together and "take down the DPP." Despite failing to secure the KMT ticket for the presidency, Gou's direct language and business success have drawn crowds in pseudo-campaign events across Taiwan.
Terry Gou's journey from factory jobs to becoming the man behind iPhones is remarkable. He founded Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, in 1974 with a small loan from his mother and a few elderly workers. The company started by manufacturing cheap plastic parts for television sets and later expanded to produce components for major brands like Apple, Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft.
Gou's connections extend beyond the business world. He has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and former U.S. President Donald Trump. Gou has expressed his desire to be a peacemaker between Taiwan, China and the U.S. if elected as Taiwan's president.
Despite his success in the business world, Gou faces the challenge of uniting the opposition parties and convincing voters that he can effectively lead Taiwan. The January election will be a crucial test for Gou's political ambitions.
Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Foxconn, has announced his bid for the presidency of Taiwan.
Gou aims to unite the fractured opposition and address tensions with China.
He criticises the ruling Democratic Progressive Party for its flawed domestic policies.
Gou's business acumen and direct language have attracted crowds in campaign events.
Source: REUTERS