Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Apple-supplier Foxconn, who is running for the presidency in Taiwan as an independent candidate, has proposed a unique solution to address the country’s declining birthrate. He suggested that couples who have a baby should receive a free cat or dog. Taiwan is grappling with one of the world’s lowest birthrates, driven by factors such as high living costs, limited childcare access, and traditional gender roles. This demographic challenge poses economic and military defense concerns for Taiwan, as its population ages rapidly.
Conversely, pet ownership in Taiwan is on the rise, with some couples opting for pets over children. Gou believes that encouraging both childbearing and pet adoption can be mutually beneficial. He stated, “Give birth to a child and I will let you raise one more pet – a cat or a dog. Give birth to two, and I will let you adopt two more.”
Notably, obtaining a pet in Taiwan does not require government permission. While Gou’s proposal aims to address two separate issues, it has faced criticism from some government officials and animal welfare organizations.
Gou has also pledged to address cross-strait relations and bolster Taiwan’s economy. He recently resigned from the Foxconn board. To secure his nomination, he must gather 290,000 signatures by November, and his candidacy has already disrupted the presidential race. Gou would be the third opposition candidate, competing against the KMT’s Hou You-ih and the Taiwan People’s Party’s Ko Wen-je. Vice-president Lai Ching-te, the Democratic Progressive Party nominee, currently leads in polling.
As Taiwan prepares for a leadership transition in January, political analysts suggest that Gou’s entry into the race may further fragment the non-DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) vote.
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