Independent Taipei mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday panned Foxconn Technology Group chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) for remarks urging more economic liberalization and cross-strait economic exchanges, while saying that democracy is not the most important thing.
“Gou’s objective of boosting economic development is right, but the way he seeks to achieve the goal is wrong,” Ko said during a campaign event yesterday, when asked to comment on Gou’s televised interview on CTiTV on Saturday.
“Of course we should continue to trade with China — we cannot give up the Chinese market — however, we should keep our eyes beyond China,” Ko said.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
He was referring to Gou’s worries during the interview about the effect that a free-trade agreement between South Korea and China could have on Taiwan.
Ko said that he especially disagrees with Gou’s assertion that democracy is not the most important thing.
“Democracy in Taiwan is still not a general democracy. If we have a general democracy, we will become a more powerful nation, so we should learn from the good, not from the bad,” Ko said. “It is up to us to decide whether we want a US-style democracy, or a Hitler-style or Soviet-style economic plan.”
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Ko said that the way to solve problems within a democratic system is to reform through a democratic method.
“That is why I said Gou’s objective is good, but his way to achieve it is wrong,” Ko added.
Separately yesterday, when traveling between campaign events, Ko’s vehicle was hit by a small truck from behind in the afternoon in a minor collision. No injuries were reported.
Ko said that he always keeps an eye on the speed of his van and reminds the driver to refrain from speeding.
“I was shocked when my van was hit from behind, but there was really nothing I could do to prevent it, because the car was coming from behind, and its driver was speeding,” Ko said.
Later, after introducing a panel of selectors for the future head of the department of environmental protection earlier last week provided he is elected, Ko yesterday held another press conference and introduced his intended panel of selectors for the head of the department of education.
The panel includes several professors, as well as former Taipei department of education director Wu Yin-chang (吳英璋) and former Greater Kaohsiung education bureau director Tseng Hsien-cheng (曾憲政).
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