Taiwanese business tycoon Terry Gou, founder of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., better known by its trade name Foxconn, announced Thursday veteran singer-actress Tammy Lai as his prospective running mate in the island's presidential election in January.

The 72-year-old billionaire, who declared his bid to run as an independent last month, told a press conference in Taipei he believes Lai would help promote a fairer and more equitable gender culture in Taiwan as vice president.

She also has the ability to create a peaceful society "full of love and compassion," he said.

Lai, 60, played the role of a presidential candidate in the hit Taiwanese Netflix drama "Wave Makers" earlier this year.

She cited as Gou's political goals and qualities "cross-strait peace, economic prosperity, a global perspective, and absolute integrity," adding that her task as his deputy will be to help him unify opposition parties.

Gou needs to collect about 290,000 voter signatures between Sept. 19 and Nov. 2 to qualify as an independent candidate.

Three other major candidates are running in the race. They are Vice President Lai Ching-te, 63, leader of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, 66, from the main opposition Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang, and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, 64, chairman of the opposition Taiwan People's Party.

None of them have announced their running mates. In May, Hou won KMT nomination over Gou in the election.

Gou, whose company is a major Apple Inc. supplier, has been urging the Taiwanese people to oust the independence-leaning DPP from office, saying it is leading the island in the direction of war. The DPP's Lai is currently leading opinion polls.

China has been stepping up military pressure on Taiwan since Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP was elected the island's leader in 2016. The 67-year-old president, whose second four-year term will expire next year, is ineligible for re-election under the two-term limit.

==Kyodo

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