Business magnate Robert Tsao pledges support for Taiwan’s defence
Robert Tsao, one of Taiwan’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, has officially given up his Singapore citizenship, as reported by Lianhe Zaobao (Zaobao). The 75-year-old, who founded United Microelectronics Corp (UMC), made the announcement at a press conference on September 1.
Speaking to the media, Tsao appeared in a bulletproof vest, expressing his enthusiasm about reclaiming his Taiwanese nationality. He declared that he was “thrilled” to return to Taiwan, pledging to stand with his fellow citizens against any potential Chinese aggression. “I will fight for Taiwan,” Tsao said, emphasising his resolve, “I will never live to witness Taiwan becoming another Hong Kong.”
In his remarks, Tsao made it clear that renouncing Singaporean citizenship was not something he regretted, as he had “more important matters” to attend to back in Taiwan. He further praised Singapore’s efficient governance, noting that the country does not require his involvement.
Tsao also revealed a significant donation plan to bolster Taiwan’s defence efforts. He intends to contribute NT$1 billion (S$45.7 million), with NT$600 million (S$27.4 million) allocated to training three million “civilian warriors” who will support Taiwan’s military in the event of a Chinese invasion. The remaining NT$400 million (S$18.3 million) will be used to train 300,000 civilian “marksmen.”
Tsao’s actions come after China escalated military drills around Taiwan, following a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier in 2022. In response to China’s military maneuvers, Tsao had previously pledged NT$3 billion (S$137.3 million) to strengthen Taiwan’s defences.
In 2011, Tsao had initially renounced his Taiwanese citizenship and relocated to Singapore after expressing dissatisfaction with legislation that restricted UMC’s investments in China. At the time, he supported Taiwan’s reunification with China through peaceful dialogue, contingent on favourable terms from Beijing. However, his stance has since evolved, and he now publicly criticises China’s government.
Tsao also took the opportunity during the September 1 press conference to label anything coming from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a “hoax.” UMC distanced itself from Tsao’s controversial remarks, noting that he had retired from the company over a decade ago and no longer held any official association with it.
