Gou Picks Actress Tammy Lai as Running Mate：Another Show of Drama？
United Daily News Commentary, September 14, 2023
Terry Gou, founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry Company (Foxconn), announced on September 14 his running mate actress Tammy Lai in the upcoming presidential election and his intention to continue his candidacy as an independent. However, Gou's camp also stated that they are open to the possibility of withdrawal at any time as Gou's candidacy is aimed at facilitating cooperation between the Kuomintang (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). After much anticipation, Gou has chosen Lai who played the role "Lin Yue-chen," a presidential-level character and the heroine in the Netflix drama series Wavemakers. "Lin Yue-chen" won the election in the drama, but will Lai continue to play the role of the victor, or will this be the final act? What is Gou’s real intention? Has the integration of opposition camps hit a roadblock? This has garnered much attention.
Gou's Attempts at Integrating Opposition Face Setbacks
Over the past two weeks, Gou has invited Chairman Ko Wen-je of the TPP to coffee several times, but Ko has politely declined with the excuse of his caffeine palpitation. Since their last meeting in May at Kinmen, where they held hands and gazed at the sea and stars, Ko has been cautious about associating himself with Gou, fearing any further connection. On KMT’s front, candidate Hou Yu-ih visited Gou's residence, but the atmosphere of their meeting was not very pleasant, and their relationship remains cold. The opposition integration initiated by Gou has faced continuous setbacks.
Gou announced his running mate, actress Tammy Lai, well-known for her role in the eight-episode Netflix drama series Wave Makers in which she portrays a presidential candidate. During the press conference where Gou introduced his deputy, Lai talked about the impact of the pandemic on Taiwan's economy and recent incidents where some young people became victims of fraud groups in Cambodia. She choked up several times, as if it was a scene out recreated from Wavemakers, passionately yelling, "Tomorrow is the day of change!"
Lai urged Gou: "Why have you let your approval ratings drop so low? Have a good cup of coffee with your competitors, please." It seems that her words have some kind of implication.
To Remove DPP From Power, Running Mate Must Be Able to Withdraw at Any Time
A political figure who once provided advice to Gou said that the prerequisite for Gou in choosing a deputy is that they must share the same "ideology" and be broad-minded. This is because Gou himself has stated that his candidacy is aimed at promoting integration among the blue-white opposition camps. Of course, his running mate must be aware and willing to withdraw at any time. The goal is to integrate the opposition camps and remove the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from power.
As Gou has started to gather signatures and announce his running mate, whether he will ultimately run as an independent candidate is still uncertain. The TPP’s Ko continues to chart his own course, and the KMT’s Hou is leaving for the United States this evening. It doesn't seem like any of them will be opting for a serious discussion with Gou. Four years ago, Gou's so-called "Mid-Autumn Uprising" occurred when he departed from the Kuomintang with the intention of running for president on his own, but later he put the breaks on his bid. Gou admitted that he had regrets.
This time, Gou is following his established plan and moving forward on the path towards independent candidacy. Gou has stated that he will "never look back" in his life. Will he continue with his candidacy this time? The KMT and TPP have been ignoring invitations for coffee from Gou. While Gou has mentioned that his candidacy is aimed at promoting the integration of the blue and white camps, if this cannot be achieved, what will his final choice be?
The presidential election is evolving from a three-party race towards a four-party race. With the opposition divided, the DPP is bound to benefit. This is a well-understood principle by all. However, getting Gou, Hou, and Ko to sit down for a good cup of coffee is currently a challenging task.
Integration Not Easy, First Fight: Opinion Polls
In opinion polls, Hou is surpassing Ko and catching up to Lai. His visit to the United States is good for his international image, but he must go all out to push for the rise in poll ratings, and accumulate bargaining chips for himself. Only then is it possible to discuss opposition integration. Moreover, compared to Gou who has resources, and Ko who has a popular following, the KMT has a massive organizational system, as well as a joint front of friendly forces including 14 (out of 23) governing counties and cities that are governed by KMT politicians, plus independent Magistrate Chung Tung-chin of Miaoli. The Kuomintang's resources are not as abundant as in the past, but its advantages still exist, so it is naturally impossible to negotiate a coalition with other opponents while still in an all-out offensive phase for Hou to catch up with his counterparts in the polls.
On Ko’s front, he is currently embroiled in a controversy over alleged wrongdoing. The only stronghold he has in terms of counties and cities is Hsinchu, which is both Ko's hometown and the city where the TPP secured the most party votes in the last general election. However, Ko's ally, Mayor Kao Hung-an of Hsinchu, has recently become embroiled in a 'cronyism' scandal, thus dealing a significant blow to the TPP's electoral prospects. Ko took to the frontlines yesterday to try to turn the tide. With his disadvantaged position, he is understandably not focused on discussing party consolidation at the moment.
Among the three candidates besides DPP’s William Lai, each individual is currently pushing forward independently. Gou has partnered with Tammy Lai for the election, launching a dedicated signature collection campaign as issuing a challenge to Hou and Ko. Meanwhile, Hou is visiting the United States and accumulating international credentials, and Ko is about to hit the campaign trail in rural areas. All three of them are continuing to vie for the presidential seat with determination, refusing to yield to one another. It's a matter of outlasting each other. They will first compete in the polls to see who fares better, and only then will they discuss who will have coffee with whom. However, with only four months left until the presidential election, time is not on the side of the opposition camp.