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Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou To Run For President of Taiwan (engadget.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the businessmen-as-politicians dept.

hackingbear writes: Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of electronics giant Foxconn, is stepping down from his role as chairman to run for president of Taiwan. Taiwan broke off from mainland China in 1949 after a civil war and is officially known as Republic of China; its legal territory still covers all of China. He will stand in the primaries of the opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), promoting a more China-friendly policy during what is currently a period of heightened tension with Beijing. Gou says he wants to improve relations with mainland China -- something which is quite feasible given his plentiful resources and experience. Foxconn already operates numerous factories in China, employing hundreds of thousands of workers, plus Gou has an alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump, thanks to Foxconn's plans to build a $10 billion facility in Wisconsin. This is certainly a relationship that could give Gou a lot of clout if necessary. Unification with China versus going independent is a political issue defining the politics of Taiwan, serving a role similar to that of abortion and immigration issues in U.S. politics.

19 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. Mr. Gou by gtall · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So you want to sell out Taiwan to your masters in the Chinese Communist Party. That's big of you. How much will you get for Taiwan's soul, eh? Don't forget, the Chinese Communist Party plays dirty, better watch your back.

    1. Re: Mr. Gou by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      So you want to sell out Taiwan to your masters in the Chinese Communist Party.

      Worse, the sleaze claims that his justification was the 'Formosan Sea Goddess' or some such appearing in a dream: he clearly believes that his country are even dumber than him and that's saying something.

    2. Re: Mr. Gou by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      ...countrymen, that is to say.

    3. Re:Mr. Gou by radarskiy · · Score: 1

      The KMT's position is that they are the masters, and that it is the mainland that is in rebellion.

    4. Re:Mr. Gou by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Which holds with the idea, as soon a mainland China is as democratic as Taiwan (which is not all that democratic), the two will merge. What was happening with regard to deteriorating relationship between China and Taiwan, was the USA. They were solely responsible for providing the motivation to continually goad the government of China into making statements which could be distorted so as to damage the diplomatic reputation of the Government of China. As they are no longer allowing themselves to be manipulated, so relations are improving, after all, they are all Chinese. So in the end Taiwan can either be not much of anything at the beck and call of the USA or be a part of China and telling the USA how things will be in their region.

      In reality, the citizens of Taiwan can only ever be independent as a part of China, rather that being a puppet of the USA, forced to attack China and it's own expense. Hence why, reunification is inevitable just a matter of time, which is why the Government of China should just stop publicly fussing about it and more soundly privately just work at the solution.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    5. Re: Mr. Gou by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 1

      Worse, the sleaze claims that his justification was the 'Formosan Sea Goddess' or some such appearing in a dream

      Wait, I've seen that schtick before:

      The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king.

      Well, I guess that the scientists are now settled on this.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    6. Re:Mr. Gou by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      >(re)unification is inevitable
      Seeing how well it's working out for HK. And in light of PRC's treatment of F.G. and Muslims/Christians etc., the Taiwanese would be mad to consider unification - once PRCN (Navy) gets to dock in Kaohsiung, all the 2C1system bs is out the window. The gloves can come off, DPP and other politicals can be rounded up for re-education while the rest of the island is militarised cutting the US 7th fleet off from its allies in the SC sea.
      China can't be a real superpower until it controls the seas off its own coast. The USA ceases to be the sole superpower once it loses its ability to conduct "freedom of passage' through the TW straits. A new cold war is starting.

      Ok, now lets wait for the China propaganda to arrive here and debunk all of this. They're all over any story on reddit, I'll bet they'll show up here too.

    7. Re: Mr. Gou by dryeo · · Score: 1

      Arthur: I am your king!
      Woman: Well I didn't vote for you!
      Arthur: You don't vote for kings.
      Woman: Well how'd you become king then?
      [Angelic music plays...]
      Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering silmite
      held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine
      providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your
      king!
      Dennis interrupting: Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin'
      swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power
      derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic
      ceremony!

      Dennis: Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just
      because some watery tart threw a sword at you!

      Dennis: Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some
      moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

      Dennis: Help! Help! I'm being oppressed! Violence inherent in the system!
      Violence inherent in the system!

      --
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism
    8. Re:Mr. Gou by cheekyboy · · Score: 1

      China is the new Soviet Asia.

      No rule of law, corrupt as hell, work for the mother land or else.

      If you;re average and poor, then enjoy the pollution and die young at 55.

      Wait till their housing bubble pops, and every family looses 50% in savings.

      --
      Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
    9. Re:Mr. Gou by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      Not familiar with the kuomintang, are you?

      This is like saying the Republican Party in its current incarnation is the party of Lincoln. Dude, systems change, shit change. I'm not giving a value assessment here, just that one can't judge the mechanisms of a political system for things that occurred more than 70 years ago.

    10. Re: Mr. Gou by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 1

      So you want to sell out Taiwan to your masters in the Chinese Communist Party.

      Worse, the sleaze claims that his justification was the 'Formosan Sea Goddess' or some such appearing in a dream: he clearly believes that his country are even dumber than him and that's saying something.

      That reminds me of our politicians saying "Jesus told me to run for prez!"

    11. Re:Mr. Gou by SoftwareArtist · · Score: 1

      The above poster is quoting Chinese government talking points on the issue. They're either a Chinese apologist, or much more likely, a government controlled account.

      Note the huge number of blatant lies. "Relations are improving." No, we're currently at a time of heightened tension. Taiwan will be "forced to attack China and it's own expense." What kind of BS is that? Taiwan has never been forced to attack China, and there's no reason to think they ever will be. "after all, they are all Chinese". No, a large fraction of Taiwan's population don't consider themselves to be Chinese. In fact, Taiwan was only ever part of China for about 200 years, from the 17th century to the 19th. Before that they were independent. After that they were part of Japan. "In reality, the citizens of Taiwan can only ever be independent as a part of China." I think you're a bit confused about what the word "independent" means.

      --
      "I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."
  2. Is it a real issue or a wedge issue? by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    >> Unification with China versus going independent is a political issue defining the politics of Taiwan, serving a role similar to that of abortion and immigration issues in U.S. politics.

    Similar would mean that it's a "wedge" issue that both parties use to fire up their core voters (the "bases") and fundraise but that neither side really wants to fix (because that would complicate the firing up and fundraising).

  3. Re:Getting out before DNC 2020 burns trump in WI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Those who count chickens before they hatch are likely to be disappointed.

    If you think Foxcom is planning to burn Trump on this, or if you think Trump is done in WI, I think you are counting unhatched chickens. The Democrats lucked out that Mueller wasn't done in time for the election and where able to parlay the FUD over Trump into votes. Problem was in WI the margin was very thin to start with... WI can fall either way this next time out, Trump is really not under suspicion (thought I doubt the dimwitted left would admit that) and that's going to translate into a shift the other way. Will it be enough? Dono, I'm not counting chickens..

  4. The opposition party by radarskiy · · Score: 1

    I am old enough to remember when there was no opposition party, just the KMT.

  5. Re:Getting out before DNC 2020 burns trump in WI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Trump is done nationwide

    Go read the news from 2016 and he was never getting started. Hillary had it in the bag. She won every single debate. So to say that he's done seems a bit off.

    What is the Democratic party running this time around? Fight fire with fire. The Republicans ran and won with an old white guy in 2016 so Democrats are running with two older and whiter guys in 2020 with Biden and Sanders. Those are the two current front-runners in the polls right now for the Democratic party. Granted, Biden hasn't announced a candidacy which is a bit weird. I think he may be going for that come-in-at-the-last-minute-and-win kind of thing that has worked in the past for various presidents, but I'm not sure he can pull it off.

    Anyways, just some ramblings from an independent voter.

  6. Just another f**king billionaire by fredrated · · Score: 1

    that thinks he owns the planet.

  7. History by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Just a note on the "Taiwan broke off from mainland China in 1949" >> The Republic of China was never part of the People's Republic of China. The Republic of China was established in 1912 and after the civil war, in 1949, the communist government took over the mainland, establishing the People's Republic of China. Meanwhile the Republic of China government fled to Taiwan. The island of Taiwan was under Japanese dominion until 1945, when it was returned to the Republic of China (not the People's Republic of China, they didn't exist yet).

  8. Taiwan is in a difficult position by aberglas · · Score: 1

    Nobody in Taiwan (even I suspect Mr Gou) wants to be part of China. But China is itching to invade, and Xi Jinping has made bellicose statements recently, and is now unstoppable within China.

    So what is the best was for Taiwan to stay free for as long as possible? On approach is to strongly assert independence from China. The other is to continue the myth that Taiwan is the rightful governor of China.

    The latter pacifies Xi somewhat. As long as Taiwan says it is part of China then there is less reason to invade. But also less likely for there to be international opposition.

    What will happen when China invades? They now are certainly developing the capacity to do so. Neither the USA nor anyone else will try to stop them militarily.

    But the whole world (even possibly Russia) would become very afraid of China. Certainly massive trade sanctions. Recently a US aircraft carrier made a friendly visit to Vietnam, which sets the tone.

    But China is no longer dependent on international trade. Its own economy is self sustaining.

    Interesting times.

    Would Gou be good or bad for this process? Hard to tell.