Founder of Taiwan’s Foxconn says China won’t attack if he’s president

On Thursday, Taiwan’s Foxconn (2317.TW) billionaire creator and presidential candidate Terry Gou said China would not strike if he became president because he would not proclaim independence.

In the run-up to Taiwan’s January presidential election, China has staged frequent military exercises near the island to assert sovereignty claims that Taiwan’s democratically elected government rejects.

I believe they desire peace. Independence requires conflict. “They think Taiwan is theirs,” Gou told Tunghai University faculty and students.

In 2019, Foxconn’s chief, Gou, one of Taiwan’s most famous faces, resigned.

This month, he reapplied for the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential ticket, which typically favors Beijing.

Gou said China wanted to grow its economy, hire college graduates, and feed its people.

They don’t want to hit Taiwan. “But Taiwanese politicians hope this will make people hate China and elect them,” said Gou, 72. “I won’t (declare) independence, you won’t attack me or fly around Taiwan,” he said, alluding to China’s virtually daily air force flights near Taiwan.

Gou called for “peace with respect” and equal negotiations and criticized international media for portraying Taiwan as a time bomb.

He asked, “Do you feel it’s dangerous?” The audience laughed.

Constitutionally, President Tsai Ing-wen cannot run again after two terms.

Her ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has nominated Vice President William Lai for president.

The KMT has not chosen a leader.

Beijing rejects Tsai’s negotiations offers because they think she’s a separatist.

Tsai and Lai said only Taiwanese can decide their future.