Sea Goddess Asked Me To Run: Foxconn Chief

Tech giant Foxconn's boss Terry Gou said on Wednesday a goddess had told him to run in Taiwan's presidential election.

Gou dropped a bombshell on the island's political landscape when he hinted on Tuesday that he was considering contesting the polls early next year.

While visiting a temple of the sea goddess Matsu in New Taipei city, Gou said the goddess "told me to step forward ... to help the people".

"The 2020 election is very important. Should I step forward or not? Matsu spoke to me in dreams a few days ago and today that ... [I] should look after people who are suffering, give young people hope and maintain cross-strait peace," Gou, head of major Apple supplier Foxconn, told reporters.

Gou, a supporter of the Beijing-friendly opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, has said he would follow the party's nomination procedure if he were to join its primary.

Incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen, 62, of the Beijing-sceptic Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has said she will seek re-election in the January 11 polls.

She faces a challenge from pro-independence former premier William Lai in the party's primaries, and the DPP is set to announce its presidential candidate later this month. (AFP)