The founder of major supplier Apple wants to be president. Billionaire candidate in Taiwan

Terry Gou founded the company in Taiwan in 1974 when he was only 24 years old. During this time, Foxconn has become one of the largest subcontractors of electronic subassemblies and components in the world. It has been Apple’s largest supplier for many years, producing parts for new iPhones and more.

The founder of Foxconn wants to be president. Heralds an “era of entrepreneurial rule”

Now the founder of Foxconn has decided to try his hand at politics (again). On Monday, the 73-year-old billionaire announced that he would run in next year’s presidential election in Taiwan – Terry Gou initially wanted to run for the centre-right Kuomintang (KMT) party, Taiwan’s largest opposition party, but after failing to win the nomination from the party, he announced that he would be an independent candidate .

In one of his speeches, Gou stated that “the era of entrepreneurship rule” has arrived. The entrepreneur has spent the last few weeks traveling around the country and organizing “campaign-like rallies,” writes Reuters. KMT party officials regretted Gou’s decision to run alone instead of supporting Hou Yu-ih, the mayor of New Taipei City.

Terry Gou wants peace in the Taiwan Strait

Much of his speeches are based on ensuring Taiwan’s security. For seven decades – that is, since the civil war that ended with the victory of communist forces – the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has considered the Republic of China (Taiwan) as its own province, which rebelled against the central authorities in Beijing. China’s aggressive narrative towards Taiwan became particularly saturated after Russia’s attack on Ukraine in 2022.

“Give me four years and I promise I will bring 50 years of peace in the Taiwan Strait,” Terry Gou promised voters, quoted by Reuters. “Taiwan cannot become Ukraine, and I will not allow Taiwan to become another Ukraine,” he said. Gou believes that the currently ruling Democratic Progressive Party is pushing his country towards war with China, and the only way to avoid it is to change the government.

Terry Gou fueled speculations about his participation in the race for president for a long time, but he officially announced his candidacy only now. Previously, the billionaire tried his hand at the previous election in 2019, moments after he resigned as head of Foxconn. He withdrew when he was not fielded as a candidate of the Kuomintang party. Before running in next year’s election as an independent, Terry Gou needs to raise 300,000 by November 2. signatures of citizens.