Investing in America's Heart

Written by Peter Li-Chang Kuo

In 1978, during his visit to my company "Cheng-Kuang Precision Industrial Co., Ltd." in Tainan, Mr. Charles B. Wheeler (1926–2022), then Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, strongly encouraged me to come to the United States. He proposed allocating 10,000 hectares of land near “the heart of America” to build a prosperous new city. With Kansas City as the hub, he envisioned radiating "precision manufacturing industry" throughout the 12 Midwestern states (covering 2.125 million km²), benefiting tens of millions of people.

Fig 1: Mr. Charles B. Wheeler

In 1979, I visited Kansas City for an on-site assessment (due diligence) and was warmly received. I prepared leveraging Wall Street resources to turn the blueprint of a precision manufacturing center in the American Midwest into reality. However, on May 4, 1980, a thrilling midnight assassination took place. During the coup to seize property, my life was threatened and my assets were totally confiscated; but I decided not to expose family disgrace to the outside world. I left the vast fortune I had created out of thin air to those who had never labored for it, and chose to leave Tainan. The meticulously developed “IIA” (Invest in America) plan was completely destroyed by a group of short-sighted individuals I had once nurtured.

In fact, when we represented Tainan in establishing a sister city relationship with “the Heart of America” — Kansas City — the surrounding 12 states still had a strong industrial foundation. Unfortunately, under the misguided trend of “buying from wherever is cheapest,” the industrial base in the Midwest gradually declined, Later, Mr. Wheeler was elected as a Missouri state senator and reiterated the plan for a prosperous new city, but the corrupt cartel group launched a fierce assault, leaving us powerless to act. The Midwest even ended up becoming a region of poverty.

It wasn’t until 2009 that U.S. President Barack Obama invited me to attend the APEC CEO Summit to contribute the way of “Rebuilding the Global Economy.” In addition to distributing gospel gold-cards, pamphlets and handouts, I specially drew up a “U.S.-Taiwan Seven Divisions of Labor Chart,” highlighting Kansas City as the central node of a U.S.-wide total economic stimulus plan—termed “IIA-TES.” The initiative was aimed at showcasing a U.S. pilot project of the "Global Channel-TES" system. I even created a two-page A4 chart listing the deployment of 2 million “eStores” across all 50 states.

Fig 2: U.S.-Taiwan Seven Divisions of Labor

The TES, short for The eStore System, includes a long list of sub-inventions such as:

Contactless Technology, Cashless Transactions, Power Chip, TranSmart Chip, RF Transmitter, TSCM (Transaction and Transmission Supply Chain Management) Software, E-Commerce (EC), 3C Integration, ICT (Information and Communications Technology), Interphone, TRD (Transaction Reader Device), ESD (Electronic Entry Security Device), ATM, ETC, VAM & eStore, and more.

The core purpose of TES is to bring about new job opportunities through innovative industries, resolving structural societal issues.

Fig 3: TES (The eStore System) Overview

The eStore is a modular replicable smart transaction platform. Consumers can use a TranSmart Card—a contactless chip card—to shop at these sales points (eStores), which can be deployed in a wide range of environments ("A/B/C...") and linked globally.

In the system, the TRD of "VAM" performs "read-erase-write" operations on the TranSmart chip. Through the "Interphone" communication module, information is automatically transmitted to the enterprise's "Control Center" for cloud computing. Afterward, the information is distributed to POS and suppliers. Logistics then handles replenishment (delivery), completing the entire process of the "Total Electronic Store" (TES) system.

Fig 4: VAM & eStore Operational Flow

In the TES framework, an “eStore” may be a traditional store upgraded with digital and AI capabilities or even a mobile store, such as a working taxi. During Taiwan’s failed industrial transformation from 1981 to 1985, many foreign investors pulled out, leaving behind widespread unemployment. Some turned to taxi driving, only to face robbery risks.

In response, my wife Linda Din walked out of the kitchen and said, “I want to invent a system that allows a taxi to operate without carrying any cash.” In 1986, she invented TES, choosing a "Contactless TranSmart Chip Card" as the transactional tool.

Fig 5: Various Forms of eStore Deployment

When TES was first invented in 1986, Chair of Economic Planning Yao-Tung Chao responded, “The government has no money!” The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) mocked the idea, saying, “Contactless TranSmart Chip? Not even possible in 50 years!”

Undeterred, we persisted independently by self-fund. In just 11 years, we brought the R&D results to the 1997 APEC meeting in Vancouver to share with the economies. After the APEC 1997, Linda Din traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Mr. Richard Ginsburg of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), where she explained “how small businesses could seamlessly enter global markets using TES”—the commercial mechanism of e-commerce.

Fig 6: Linda Din Visiting U.S. SBA Official

Consequently, Linda Din, Chair of K-Horn Science Inc., was invited to serve as an APEC speaker in 1998. Her TES proposal led to the E-Commerce Legislation, bringing hope to countries devastated by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and opening a door to global markets.

This laid the foundation for the highest-output industry of the new century— "E-Commerce"—helping the world climb out of the post-crisis abyss. During the COVID-19 era, annual cashless transaction volume reached USD 36 trillion.

Fig 7: Linda Din and U.S. Representative Propose E-Commerce Bill

By 2009, we had worked tirelessly within APEC for 13 years. The TES system’s needs for ICT infrastructure, IPR legislation, and satellite support were already in place.

Since public understanding was still limited back then, we had integrated "vending machines + ATM + mobile communicator" to create "VAM," and conducted cashless system testing between Taichung, Taipei, and Silicon Valley. Our Transaction Supply Chain Management (TSCM) software system and VAM together introduced a new concept: "Virtual Asset Management."

This sparked new momentum at the 2009 APEC Leaders’ Meeting. By 2024, transaction volume under this system reached USD 28 trillion.

Recently, Linda has often asked about the process through which we helped establish a sister city relationship with Kansas City.

In November 1977, my old friend Su Nan-Cheng was elected Mayor of Tainan. Shortly after, he approached us to discuss forming a sister city relationship with Kansas City, Missouri. At the time, U.S. President Jimmy Carter's attitude toward Taiwan was becoming increasingly unfavorable, and official exchanges were facing mounting difficulties. Mayor Su hoped that we, as private citizens, could help the city government successfully carry out this effort. Naturally, we accepted the task without hesitation. On April 10, 1978, the two cities formally became sister cities.

Mayor Charles B. Wheeler was born in 1926 and had served in the "Flying Tigers." My late father, Kun-Cheng Kuo, was also born in 1926 and had served in the "Kamikaze Special Attack Unit" during World War II. Once former enemies—Japan and the United States—had now become close allies through this sister-city relationship, with Tainan becoming Kansas City’s very first sister city. The two sides had a wonderful and friendly exchange.

Fig 8: Tainan citizen Kun-Cheng Kuo receiving Mayor Wheeler

In 2003, while serving as a Missouri State Senator, Mr. Wheeler once again brought up the proposal to allocate 10,000 hectares of land to build a prosperous new city. Senator Wheeler said that his visit to "Cheng Kuang Precision" in Tainan still remains vivid in his memory. He was deeply impressed by our precision manufacturing capabilities for various electronic components, including ultra-fine wires, deflection yokes, and PCB (printed circuit board) in fully automated production. He remarked, "If these technologies could be brought to Missouri, it would improve the entire region’s economy."

Fig 9：Mayor Wheeler once visited “Cheng Kuang Precision Industrial Co., Ltd.”

He had learned that we had invented a “Contactless Semiconductor” and developed an "E-Commerce System" based on that technology— "TES" (The eStore System)—which had already been adopted into APEC legislation and gained international policy support. He extended an even more enthusiastic invitation for us to return.

TES encompasses the four flows of "money, goods, logistics, and information." Upon hearing this, Mr. Wheeler’s eyes lit up. He said:

“Kansas City is the ‘Heart of America’—the central point of the 12 Midwestern states, covering 2.125 million square kilometers. It’s the best ideal location for managing these four flows!”

According to the official definition by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Midwestern United States includes the following 12 states:

1) Illinois (IL),

2) Indiana (IN),

3) Iowa (IA),

4) Kansas (KS),

5) Michigan (MI),

6) Minnesota (MN),

7) Missouri (MO),

8) Nebraska (NE),

9) North Dakota (ND),

10) Ohio (OH),

11) South Dakota (SD),

12) Wisconsin (WI);

These twelve states are located in the north-central region of the United States, between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. This vast inland area includes the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, totaling approximately 2.125 million square kilometers and home to about 69.5 million people, which accounts for roughly 20% of the U.S. population.

Kansas City spans 826.3 square kilometers. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the city has a population of 508,090, making it the 36th most populous city in the United States. The metropolitan area has a total population of 2,392,035.

Missouri has a land area of approximately 180,693 square kilometers (or 69,766 square miles), ranking it 21st among U.S. states by size. According to 2019 population estimates, Missouri has approximately 6,137,428 residents.

There have long been whispers that Mayor Wheeler’s tenure from 1971 to 1979, during which he completed numerous major infrastructure projects—including the airport—was considered the “last golden era of Kansas City.” However, during his term as a Missouri State Senator (2003–2007), he aspired to usher in a new golden age—this time by expanding his vision beyond the city and into all 12 Midwestern states, using the TES system as the catalyst. If this precision manufacturing hub had come to fruition, he truly would have been remembered in history.

At that time, we devised a “concentric circle” urban development plan, aiming to make full use of the 10,000 hectares (approximately 100 square kilometers) of land near Kansas City—the Heart of America—to build a modern, prosperous new city. Through several meetings and by referencing large-scale development projects in the United States, we drafted the following key components for this New City:

1. Precision Manufacturing & Industrial Park

1) High-Tech Precision Manufacturing Zone:
Introduce industries such as automation, robotics, AI, semiconductors, and medical devices, with dedicated R&D centers and production facilities.

2) Industrial Incubators and Innovation Centers:
Offer office space, technical support, and venture capital matchmaking for startups to foster industrial upgrading and attract talent.

3) ICT Control Center:
A centralized facility for data collection, processing, and intelligent infrastructure management.

2. Integrated Residential Communities

1) Diverse Residential Neighborhoods:
Plan for low-, medium-, and high-density housing, including single-family homes, apartments, and townhouses to meet the needs of all income levels.

2) Smart Community Infrastructure:
Incorporate smart home technology, IoT systems, and green building standards (e.g., LEED certification).

3. Commercial & Retail Centers

1) Major Shopping Malls and Commercial Districts:
Introduce international brands, specialty dining, and entertainment facilities to establish a new landmark for leisure and consumption.

2) Convention and Hotel Complexes:
Host international conferences and exhibitions, attracting global business travelers.

4. Public Amenities & Educational Resources

1) International Schools & University Branches:
Attract international talent and families, and elevate the overall educational standards.

2) Economics Institute (EI) Linked with Community Colleges:
Strengthen vocational and technical education systems.

3) Medical Center & Health Industry Park:
Establish large hospitals and wellness centers to promote medical tourism.

4) Faith Center: Plan to build the Third Temple and rebuild America’s religious beliefs.

Fig 10: Schematic diagram of the Third Temple

5. Green Spaces & Recreational Facilities

1) Central Park and Ecological Green Corridors:
Design expansive parks, pedestrian paths, and cycling lanes to enhance quality of life.

2) Sports & Cultural Facilities:
Build stadiums, performance halls, museums, and sports fields to enrich the city’s cultural and recreational offerings.

6. Transportation & Infrastructure

1) Smart Mobility Hub:
Plan an integrated transportation system including highways, railways, light rail, and electric buses, connecting Kansas City with other key cities across the Midwest.

2) Logistics & Supply Chain Center:
Capitalize on Kansas City’s role as a national logistics hub to develop state-of-the-art warehousing and distribution centers.

7. Sustainability & Smart City Development

1) Green Energy & Environmental Solutions:
Deploy micro-generators, maximize the use of renewable resources like solar and water power, and implement systems such as rainwater harvesting. Especially, utilizing a “subsurface water reservoir” (also known as a bank filtrate system) to collect and store underflow from the riverbed for irrigation and water supply purposes.

2) Digital Governance & Urban Big Data:
Establish a smart city platform to enhance administrative efficiency and citizen engagement.

Today, on U.S. Independence Day, President Donald Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), which had just passed Congress. This legislation promotes precision manufacturing and research investment in the United States. It offers up to 15% tax credits for manufacturing companies that invest domestically, and allocates substantial funding for infrastructure revitalization across the Midwest—aligning directly with the vision we had decades ago for a new, prosperous city in the Heart of America. Under the MAGA policy framework, the Midwest may once again rise to prominence.

In summary, the 10,000-hectare New City was designed to be a comprehensive, modern smart city integrating industry, housing, commerce, education, healthcare, leisure, and transportation. It would serve as a new model for both living and industrial development across the 12 Midwestern states—driving regional economic growth and elevating society as a whole. Moreover, America’s Heart—called forth for this purpose—will be the site of the Third Temple, renewing the steadfast faith of this land and its people.

Peter Li-Chang Kuo, the author created Taiwan's Precision Industry in his early years. Peter was a representative of the APEC CEO Summit and an expert in the third sector. He advocated "anti-corruption (AC)/cashless/e-commerce (E-Com)/ICT/IPR/IIA-TES / Micro-Business (MB)…and etc." to win the international bills and regulations.