Hon Hai Group founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) recently published an opinion editorial in the Washington Post, criticizing President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration for refusing to accept the “one China framework,” while stressing that Taiwan should directly negotiate with China based on the framework. Gou even wrote that the country should avoid unhealthy reliance on the US.
However, if Gou thinks that Taipei should have direct talks with Beijing on the premise of the “one China framework,” perhaps he should try to persuade the Taiwanese voters, instead of Washington or US citizens. In fact, from the Koo-Wang (辜汪) talks in 1993 to the Ma-Xi (馬習) meeting in 2015, there were already some examples of direct dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. So the right way to proceed is to gain Taiwanese voters’ support, rather than chasing after the far-away at the expense of what is within reach.
People know that Gou always wants to run for president. Instead of trying to hide his ambition, he should openly announce his presidential bid as an independent presidential candidate. This would surely be far more effective than writing an opinion editorial.
In addition, the interaction between Taiwan and the US has been closely related to China’s friendliness or hostility. If China is willing to give up annexing Taiwan by force or give up sending its warplanes and warships to harass the island, why should Taiwan procure more weapons from the US, and why should more military exchanges between Taiwan and the US be necessary?
Gou would rather complain to the US about the Taiwanese government’s flaws than ask Taiwanese for a chance just to practice his ideals, while deliberately reversing the cause and effect of their helplessness in striving for US support. And his ignorance of Beijing’s actions is totally illogical, and such a view is unpresentable.
Huang Wei-ping is a former think tank researcher.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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