Talking Taiwan: Robert Tsao, Founder of UMC Pledges to Donate USD 100 Million to Taiwan’s Military Cause
In December I spoke with Robert Tsao, founder of UMC, who in August of 2022 pledged to donate 100 million U.S. dollars to help Taiwan defend itself. In 2011 he moved to Singapore and became a citizen there, but in September of last year he renounced his Singaporean citizenship, and reinstated his citizenship in Taiwan.
We talked about what motivated him to decide to make the donation to defend Taiwan, why he’s been perceived as pro business investment in China, and about his support for a referendum on unification between Taiwan and China.
[LISTEN to the Complete Episode HERE on APPLE PODCASTS or SPOTIFY]
We even asked him about his early support in 1993 for the New Party (Xin dang), a political party in Taiwan that had a pro Chinese unification stance.
Mr. Tsao also shared his thoughts on the Chinese Communist party today and why he thinks it’s important protect Taiwan from an attack by the Chinese Communist People’s Republic of China.
This episode of Talking Taiwan has been sponsored by NATWA, the North America Taiwanese Women's Association.
NATWA was founded in 1988, and its mission is:
1. to evoke a sense of self-esteem and enhance women's dignity,
2. to oppose gender discrimination and promote gender equality,
3. to fully develop women's potential and encourage their participation in public affairs,
4. to contribute to the advancement of human rights and democratic development in Taiwan,
5. to reach out and work with women's organizations worldwide to promote peace for all.
To learn more about NATWA visit their website: www.natwa.com
Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:
Mr. Tsao’s thoughts on the November 2022 local elections in Taiwan
Mr. Tsao’s thoughts on whether the local elections will impact Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election
Mr. Tsao’s donation of 100 million U.S. dollars for Taiwan’s defense and what it will be spent on
Why Mr. Tsao decided to make the donation of 100 million U.S. dollars
Taiwan’s first direct presidential election was in 1996
How to protect Taiwan’s freedom and democracy
President Chen Shui-bian’s Task Force on cross-Strait Relations, headed by Academia Sinica President and Nobel prize winner Professor Lee Yuan-tseh
Mr. Tsao’s suggestion regarding a referendum on Taiwan’s reunification with China in 2001
Taiwan’s independence
How Taiwan is unlike Hong Kong which was returned to China
The July 21, 2019 attacks at the Yuen Long MTR station in Hong Kong
Mr. Tsao’s thoughts on the Chinese Communist party
Parallels between Russia’s President Vladimir Putin invading Ukraine and the possibility of China’ President Xi Jinping attacking Taiwan
Questions about Mr. Tsao’s thoughts on investment in China, and his support for a referendum on unification between Taiwan and China
Mr. Tsao’s support in 1993of the New party, a political party in Taiwan that had a pro-Chinese unification stance
How Mr. Tsao considers himself Taiwanese
The protests by people in China over strict COVID restrictions
Name rectification and constitutional reform for Taiwan
How much of a deterrent Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is to China attacking Taiwan
Military reform in Taiwan
Mr. Tsao’s thoughts on the unification of Taiwan and China
Related Links:
Robert Tsao: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Tsao
Democracy Crackdown Moved Taiwan Chip Pioneer to Oppose Beijing (an article from Bloomberg): https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-13/democracy-crackdown-moved-taiwan-chip-pioneer-to-oppose-beijing
Robert Tsao pledges money to make 1m combat drones (an article from the Taipei Times): https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2022/09/24/2003785860
EDITORIAL: Tracking Robert Tsao’s trajectory (an article from the Taipei Times): https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2022/08/11/2003783324
DPP (Democratic Progressive party aka Min Jing dang): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Progressive_Party
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsai_Ing-wen
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iingwen
DPP picks Hsinchu Mayor Lin Chih-chien to run for Taoyuan seat (an article from Focus Taiwan): https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202206180019
NTU committee determines ex-Hsinchu mayor plagiarized thesis (an article from Focus Taiwan): https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202208090006
Chiang Wan-an: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Wan-a
President Tsai resigns as DPP chairperson after election setback (an article from Focus Taiwan): https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202211260034
KMT (Chinese Nationalist party, Kuomintang, Guomintang): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang
Taiwan’s first direct presidential election in 1996: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Taiwanese_presidential_election
Former Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chen_Shui-bian
Professor Lee Yuan-tseh: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_T._Lee
Cross-Strait Task Force vs. National Unification Council (an article from the Taiwan Communique): https://www.taiwandc.org/twcom/93-no5.htm
Chinese Communist Party: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Communist_Party
People’s Republic of China: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China
Taiwan independence movement: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_independence_movement
Hong Kong’s Handover/Return to China: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handover_of_Hong_Kong
2019 Yuen Long attack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Yuen_Long_attack
News reporting on the July 21, 2019 attacks at the Yuen Long MTR station in Hong Kong:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/21/asia/hong-kong-protest-july-21-intl-hnk/index.html
Hong Kong Marks Second Anniversary of Bloody Yuen Long Attacks (an article from Radio Free Asia): https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/hongkong-attack-07212021134738.html
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin
Xi Jiping, President of the PRC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xi_Jinping
New Party (新黨, Xin dang): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Party_(Taiwan)
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23692271-sapiens
Mao Zedong: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong
Kuma Academy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuma_Academy
Courtney Donovan Smith of Taiwan Report Shares His Analysis on Taiwan’s 2022 “Nine-in-One” Local Elections (Episode 227): https://talkingtaiwan.com/courtney-donovan-smith-of-taiwan-report-shares-his-analysis-on-taiwans-2022-nine-in-one-local-elections-ep-227/
Eric Chang on China’s Breach of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone: Threat or Bluff? (Episode 127): https://talkingtaiwan.com/eric-chang-on-chinas-breach-of-taiwans-air-defense-identification-zone-threat-or-bluff-ep-127/
FAPA (Formosan Association for Public Affairs): https://fapa.org/
Dr. Bo-Chheng Lin: Taiwan’s Semiconductor Industry and the Current Chip Shortage (Episode 160): https://talkingtaiwan.com/dr-bo-chheng-lin-taiwans-semiconductor-industry-and-the-current-chip-shortage-ep-160/
Will China Attack Taiwan? Kuan-Ting Chen Discusses Ramifications of the War in Ukraine on Taiwan (Episode 175): https://talkingtaiwan.com/will-china-attack-taiwan-kuan-ting-chen-discusses-ramifications-of-the-war-in-ukraine-on-taiwan-ep-175/
Taiwan Cares Humanitarian Efforts for Ukraine Raise $9000 in 24 Hours (Episode 176): https://talkingtaiwan.com/taiwan-cares-humanitarian-efforts-for-ukraine-raise-9000-in-24-hours-ep-176/
Taiwan’s Civil Defense Preparedness: T.H. Schee on How to Prepare for the Threat of an Attack (Episode 178): https://talkingtaiwan.com/taiwans-civil-defense-preparedness-t-h-schee-on-how-to-prepare-for-the-threat-of-an-attack-ep-178/
Eric Chan Discusses What Led the Taiwan Military to Shoot Down a Chinese Civilian Drone (Episode 206): https://talkingtaiwan.com/eric-chan-discusses-what-led-the-taiwan-military-to-shoot-down-a-chinese-civilian-drone-ep-206/
LISTEN to Episode 229: Robert Tsao, Founder of UMC Pledges to Donate USD 100 Million to Taiwan’s Military Cause HERE
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