ROC and PRC belong to one Chinese nation: Terry Gou

Taipei, May 9 (CNA) Hon Hai Group Chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) said his basic position on cross-Taiwan Strait relations is that the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are part of one Chinese nation.

Gou said during an interview with CommonWealth Magazine Tuesday that he supports the Kuomintang (KMT) stand on the 1992 consensus, wherein both sides acknowledge there is only one China but are free to interpret the meaning of one China.

"I will not mention the '1992 consensus' without saying both sides are part of one China and each side can define what China means." Gou said in Mandarin, adding there is a Republic of China (ROC) and a People's Republic of China (PRC) under one Chinese nation.

Gou's statement is an elaboration of his earlier statement that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China," which drew criticism from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party as dancing to the tune of Beijing.

The 1992 consensus refers to an understanding reached in 1992 between the then-KMT government of Taiwan and Chinese communist officials. The consensus has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledging there is only "one China" with each free to interpret what "China" means. However, Beijing has never publicly recognized the second part of the KMT interpretation.

In the same interview, Gou said there is nothing wrong with leaning on the United States, but in doing so the nation should not turn its back on China, the world's second largest market.

The 68-year-old business tycoon reiterated that the two sides can expand economic cooperation only under the principles of fairness, reciprocity and mutual respect, hence Mainland China should recognize the existence of the Republic of China.

Gou, who has thrown his hat into Taiwan's 2020 presidential race, said Taiwan is ahead on the road of democracy but lags behind in economic development due to political fighting. Next year's election is a battle over who can move Taiwan's economy forward, he added.

Saying the trade war between the United States and China represents an opportunity for Taiwan, Gou pointed out that Taiwan's future leader should be able to find a peaceful and balanced solution to get along with both Washington and Beijing.

Gou also revealed he will visit Kaohsiung within a month to decide on the location of a huge investment plan involving the transfer of production lines from his factories in Tianjin and Shenzhen, industrial cities in China.

Meanwhile, Gou disclosed that the declaration of the new Japanese imperial era of Reiwa, which means beautiful harmony, prompted him to join next year's presidential race, hoping to create peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.