TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Terry Gou, who based Apple provider Foxconn, mentioned Monday he'll run as an impartial candidate in Taiwan’s presidential election, ending months of hypothesis.

At a information convention, Gou criticized the governing Democratic Progressive Party, saying its insurance policies have “brought Taiwan into the risk of war” with China, which claims the self-ruled island democracy as a part of its territory.

“I will definitely not allow Taiwan to become the next Ukraine,” he added.

He mentioned Taiwan additionally wants new approaches on the financial system and different issues at residence. “Domestically, the national policy direction is filled with all sorts of mistakes. There’s no way to solve the difficulties of Taiwanese industry and people’s livelihoods,” he mentioned.

Gou’s Foxconn, formally generally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., is a serious provider to Apple and has many factories in China that manufacture iPhones.

Ideologically, Gou is most according to the Kuomingtang, the opposition celebration that's pleasant to China. The celebration holds that Taiwan and China are a part of one nation, known as the Republic of China. The Kuomingtang dominated over China within the early half of the twentieth century earlier than they misplaced a civil battle to the Communist Party. They retreated to Taiwan in 1949, the place they vowed to at some point retake the republic.

Gou has lengthy had presidential aspirations. He misplaced within the Kuomingtang major in 2019 and tried once more this yr, however the celebration chosen New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih as its candidate. Back in May, Gou mentioned on his Facebook web page that he would assist Hou’s candidacy.

Experts say Gou is unlikely to turn into a frontrunner.

Gou’s speech emphasised unity as a result of he has obtained criticism that he was splitting the vote, Hsiao Hsu-Tsen, a former deputy secretary-general of the presidential workplace who usually feedback on Taiwanese politics. This choice to run - “It’s a demonstration of his political power.”

Since he's operating with out the backing of a serious political celebration, Gou should collect public signatures to qualify for the poll.

That is a excessive barrier to fulfill, because it requires 1.5% of the voting inhabitants in Taiwan, which is about 290,000 signatures, mentioned Yeh-lih Wang, a professor of politics at National Taiwan University.

The different candidates for the Jan. 13 election are former Taipei metropolis mayor Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party and present Vice President Lai Ching-te of the ruling DPP. Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen is serving her second time period in workplace and can't search one other.

Currently, Lai is the front-runner, with Ko and Hou trailing in numerous polls.

Gou in the meantime has by no means garnered greater than 20% of assist in polls that pit him towards the opposite three, mentioned Wang, the political science professor.

“He always thought that he could be the one who would unite the opposition,” although that’s unlikely, Wang mentioned.

Gou mentioned he felt he has one thing to contribute on the problems that matter to Taiwan’s individuals.

“I have not seen substantive discussions of policy recently, especially on the topics of cross straits relations (with China), economic development or international relations,” he mentioned.

Gou mentioned he would work for Taiwanese society’s unity as a result of unity was important to Taiwan’s future.

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