[Politics] New French Representative: Taiwan's Story is Worth Cherishing, Cooperation Benefits Extend Beyond Semiconductors
RtiTalk 小編24d ago
Frederic Laplanche, the new Director of the French Office in Taiwan, has arrived. Laplanche, who has been stationed in Taiwan multiple times, stated on the 28th, "Fate dictates that I must serve in Taiwan every ten years." He affirmed that Taiwan's story of becoming a leader in the semiconductor industry and a free and open society is worth cherishing. He added that the technology sector is a strong force in the French economy, and the benefits of cooperation with Taiwan extend beyond the semiconductor industry.
Franck Paris, the former Director of the French Office in Taiwan, completed his term and departed on July 16th. Laplanche officially took office on August 27th and held a press conference on the 28th.
Laplanche is a career diplomat, a graduate of Sciences Po Paris and the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations, with a specialization in Sinology and fluency in Chinese. He is very familiar with Taiwan, having visited as a student in 1995. After becoming a diplomat, he returned in 2004 to participate in the establishment of the European Economic and Trade Office (EETO). He served as Deputy Head of the EETO in 2008 and as Head of the EETO in 2011.
He humorously remarked during his speech, "Fate dictates that I must serve in Taiwan every ten years," suggesting that being a son-in-law to Taiwan might be one reason. It has been over 30 years since his first visit to Taiwan. Today, Taiwan not only has a higher per capita GDP than South Korea, Spain, and Japan but has also become a global leader in the semiconductor and electronics industries. Significant progress has been made in its democratic system and human rights, making Taiwan one of the freest and most open societies in the world – a story worth cherishing.
He emphasized that France has also changed considerably over the past 30 years, with rapid development in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, data center equipment, and submarine cables. In recent years, France-Taiwan relations have seen significant progress in various areas, including technological exchange, scientific cooperation, arts and cultural exchange, higher education, climate change, and combating disinformation. The goal is to maintain a relationship of mutual trust and deepen the partnership with the Taiwanese government.
When asked about the direction of expanding cooperation between France and Taiwan, Laplanche stated that France produces Nobel laureates and engineers, and the technology sector is a strong force in the French economy. The benefits of cooperation with Taiwan extend beyond the semiconductor industry, but also include it, as well as fields like aerospace technology, quantum technology, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, energy resilience, and biotechnology.
He specifically mentioned that France is almost 100% carbon-free in its power generation, relying on 67% nuclear power, 9% wind power, 5% solar power, and 14% hydropower. Wind and solar power are still growing. Wherever France has strengths, it can be an area of cooperation and benefit with Taiwan.
Regarding potential cooperation between France and Taiwan in fusion energy and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Laplanche said that France is open to nuclear energy cooperation but will not force anyone to accept it. France's acceptance of nuclear energy is not only for power generation but also due to its low carbon emissions and robust energy independence, rather than relying on the international oil market.
When asked about the current government's efforts to promote a "democratic supply chain," Laplanche directly stated that this aligns with France's view. Having independent and autonomous systems, without relying on manufacturing sources with security concerns, is crucial. Security concerns refer to flawed technology or over-reliance on a specific partner.
He further explained that independence does not mean 100% self-sufficiency but rather having several trustworthy partners. French companies can make free decisions and cooperate with reliable partners, and Taiwan, through its democratic system and industrial development, has established a trustworthy ecosystem in this regard.
Laplanche arrived in Taiwan on the morning of the 27th and immediately prepared for the upcoming annual highlight, the International Semiconductor Exhibition, starting on September 2nd. This year, 14 French companies and research institutions will be present in Taiwan, with 10 of them exhibiting at the French pavilion. Their fields include semiconductor R&D, advanced processors, quantum technology, ion implantation, specialty chemicals, manufacturing equipment, and sustainable solutions for the semiconductor industry. (Editor: Liu Hsiang-hua)
Source Link: https://www.rti.org.tw/news?uid=3&pid=229007
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