Foxconn

Are Terry Gou and Chang Ya-chung Attempting to Trick Taiwan Into Purchasing Chinese Vaccines?

It has proven an odd twist that the manufacturing giant FoxConn and Chang Ya-chung, the head of the Sun Yat-Sen School and the pro-unification Chinese Integration Association, have announced plans to purchase vaccines in the past few days. Although FoxConn CEO Terry Gou claims that he intend to purchase German BioNTech vaccines for Taiwan, not Chinese vaccines, BioNTech's past record makes a strong case for skepticism. Chang's actions are further suspicious, as his actions suggest murky links to Shanghai Fosun, in seeking to purchase both BioNTech and Sinopharm vaccines. Sinopharm is 49% owned by Shanghai Fosun, ostensibly BioNtech's Greater China market distributor, as a joint venture with the Chinese government...

Pegatron Reports Show That Labor Abuses Continue at Taiwanese-Owned Factories in China

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Pegatron was in the news last week after reports that Pegatron was illegally using student labor in China. As a result, Apple has announced that it will be suspending business with Pegatron, though questions have been raised about Apple's claims that it intends to halt business with Pegatron until labor abuses stop at Pegatron factories...

Annette Lu Unexpectedly Enters the Presidential Race, While Gou and Ko Withdraw

FoxConn CEO Terry Gou surprised yesterday with an announcement that he would not be running in 2020 presidential elections, with Taipei mayor Ko wen-je stating earlier today in the wake of Gou's announcement that he also would not be running. Today, September 17th, was the deadline for registering with the Central Election Commission as an independent candidate. In the meantime, in the pan-Green camp, the Formosa Alliance has unexpectedly announced plans to run Annette Lu as their presidential candidate...

Are Pro-Unification Versus Pro-Independence Politics Behind The Formosa TV Fee Dispute?

A fee dispute between some of Taiwan’s most significant television networks has touched upon long-standing concerns about undue attempts to influence political developments through the media. Namely, television network Formosa TV has alleged that FoxConn CEO Terry Gou is attempting to use the fee dispute to prevent Formosa TV programs from being shown as a form of political censorship...

What Does Terry Gou Aim To Accomplish Through A Deal With Trump?

With the recent announcement by FoxConn CEO Terry Gou that FoxConn would be building a $10 billion USD LCD panel plant in Wisconsin in a high-profile press conference with Donald Trump, some in Taiwan question what Gou exactly aims to accomplish with this deal cementing ties between his company and the Trump administration. Given Gou’s close ties with both the KMT and CCP, is Gou acting on behalf of China? Of the KMT? Both? Neither? One wonders...