Former Foxconn chief quits Taiwan opposition, hints at presidential run

Taiwan’s richest man sensationally quit the opposition party on Thursday, rebuking his former political allies and strongly hinting that he would run as an independent in an upcoming presidential election.

Terry Gou, who made his billions at the helm of the world’s largest electronics assembler Foxconn, made his announcement in a hand-written letter which has shaken a political establishment long dominated by two parties.

Gou, 68, said the Kuomintang party he joined 49 years ago had become “corrupt” and a “platform for personal gain and power”.

And he also hit out at the ruling Democratic People’s Party.