Terry Gou, the billionaire founder of Apple-supplier Foxconn and a presidential hopeful in Taiwan, has put forth a unique proposal to address the country's declining birthrate, The Guardian reported. Gou, who recently announced his intention to run for president as an independent candidate, suggested offering couples free pets as an incentive to have children. Taiwan is facing one of the world's lowest birthrates, attributed to factors like the high cost of living, limited access to childcare, and traditional gender expectations. Additionally, the rapid aging of the population poses economic and military defense challenges for Taiwan.
Gou made this proposal while speaking at a temple in Taipei, where he highlighted the growing trend of pet ownership among couples who are choosing animals over having children. He suggested,
"Give birth to a child, and I will let you raise one more pet – a cat, a dog. Give birth to two, and I will let you adopt two more."
Taiwan currently does not require government permission for individuals to own pets. Gou visited an animal shelter recently and believed that addressing both the declining birthrate and the welfare of pets could be accomplished simultaneously. He stated,
"If there is no birthrate in the future, who will take care of our furry friends? So, I have put these two issues together. You can't expect me, one person, to propose a complete policy for every little matter. Adding and multiplying love, that's my goal."
However, this proposal received criticism from some government politicians and animal welfare groups. Gou previously proposed government subsidies for child-rearing costs up to the age of six during the last presidential election, but it was not implemented.
Gou's presidential campaign also includes pledges to address cross-strait relations and boost Taiwan's economy. He recently resigned from the Foxconn board and now faces the challenge of gathering 290,000 signatures by November to secure his nomination. His entry into the presidential race has added another dimension to the contest, with Gou becoming the third opposition candidate alongside the Kuomintang's (KMT) Hou You-ih and the Taiwan People's Party's Ko Wen-je. In current polling, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) nominee, Vice-President Lai Ching-te, maintains the lead with about one-third of the support.
The incumbent president, Tsai Ing-wen, is set to step down in January after completing two terms. Analysts suggest that Gou's entry into the race could further divide the non-DPP vote in Taiwan's presidential election.
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