Foxconn Founder Gou Announces Run For KMT Presidential Nomination

MNI (London)-Billionaire founder of Apple supplier Foxconn, Terry Gou, has announced his intention to seek the nomination of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) ahead of the January 2024 presidential election. The KMT is viewed as seeking closer relations with Beijing compared to the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Tsai Ing-wen, which is more assertive in its Taiwanese nationalism.

• Gou sought the KMT nomination ahead of the 2020 election, but was beaten into second place by Han Kuo-yu. During his announcement earlier today Gou utilised a phrase often deployed by the KMT, stating that the DPP "exalts Taiwan independence and hates and opposes China."
• Opinion polling shows what could be a close race, with polling in late 2022 showing DPP candidate, VP Lai Ching-te, KMT Mayor of New Taipei Hou Yu-ih, liberal TPP head Ko wen-je, and Gou all gaining notable traction.
• Gou states that a key aim of his presidency would be to reduce cross-Strait and China-US tensions, but that if he did not win the nomination he would support the eventual KMT candidate.
• The announcement comes on the day of President Tsai's high-profile meeting with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in California as part of a 'transit stop' during her trip back from Central America.