The founder and CEO of Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn announced Wednesday that he will run for president of the island nation, saying that the sea goddess Mazu inspired his bid.
“If I’m elected, I will represent Kuomintang in the 2020 presidential election to compete,” Terry Gou said at the Kuomintang opposition party’s headquarters, according to BBC. “If I’m not elected, it means I haven’t worked hard enough.”
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BBC reported that Gou intends to run a campaign that promotes more China-friendly policy. Gou reportedly said that Mazu encouraged him to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait during the Kuomintang opposition party’s primaries.
“Three days ago, Mazu came to me in a dream,” he said. “Mazu doesn’t want Taiwanese society to be so difficult. Mazu told me to come out and do something.”
Gou, who became a billionaire through his company that manufactures electronic devices such as iPhones, added that he would follow the goddesses’ instructions and campaign to “do more for Taiwan’s people.”
According to BBC, Mazu is worshipped among large Taoist and Chinese Buddhist communities, including Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The country’s presidential election will take place in January 2020 at a time of increased tensions between Taiwan and China.
If Gou win’s the Kuomintang party’s nomination, he would face off against Tsai Ing-wen, the head of the traditionally pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, who became Taiwan’s first female president in 2016.
Gou’s presidential bid comes during a time when Gou’s company becomes more well-known in the U.S. President TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse Dems demand Barr cancel ‘inappropriate’ press conference on Mueller report DOJ plans to release ‘lightly redacted’ version of Mueller report Thursday: WaPo Nadler accuses Barr of ‘unprecedented steps’ to ‘spin’ Mueller report MORE in 2017 touted an expansive Foxconn manufacturing plant that is set to be built in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) said Wednesday that he plans to renegotiate the state’s contract with Foxconn because it will not be able to deliver on its initially agreed upon promise to create the 13,000 jobs in the state.