Outgoing French Representative Long Ye: "Taiwan is Addictive"

Taipei, July 7 (CNA) -- As his term as Director of the French Office in Taipei draws to a close, Long Ye said on Sunday that France and Taiwan have deepened their cooperation in recent years, particularly in technology and innovation, where there is clear complementarity. He noted that the uniqueness of the partnership lies in expanding each other's strengths rather than competing; he hopes Taiwanese companies will establish data centers in France. He also said, "Taiwan is addictive," and "the genuine friendliness of the Taiwanese people is my best experience in Taiwan."

Long Ye (Franck Paris) took office in August 2023 and will complete his term and depart Taiwan on July 16 this year. He held a media briefing today.

Long Ye recalled arriving three years ago, feeling unfamiliar with the place and unable to speak Mandarin. However, Taiwan opened its doors to him, including at the highest levels, for which he is deeply grateful. This was unlike his experiences in other postings, and the substantive dialogue with various sectors in Taiwan was the first souvenir Taiwan gave him.

Long Ye specifically mentioned his impression of the Taiwanese people's character, stating, "This is not lip service." He described the Taiwanese people as a unique combination of expertise and humility, though they are often too modest, and it is in their genes to remain low-key in their areas of strength. He attributed this to Taiwanese culture but acknowledged that geopolitical considerations are also clearly a factor.

France and Taiwan have deepened cooperation in recent years in fields such as culture, education, technology, science, and innovation. In addition to the annual French Culture and Lifestyle Festival in Kaohsiung, the Lycée International Français de Kaohsiung was established this year. Furthermore, Foxconn has partnered with a French company to establish an advanced packaging plant, and SiPearl, a French startup, is mass-producing Europe's first CPU in collaboration with TSMC.

Long Ye emphasized that French expertise in science, technology, and R&D is not widely known in Taiwanese society. He remains optimistic about the future of bilateral relations because France and Taiwan have clear complementarity. France and Europe can contribute in areas like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum science, while Taiwan can scale up these innovative technologies. "The uniqueness of the Franco-Taiwanese partnership lies in expanding each other's strengths, not in competing with each other."

Regarding other potential areas of cooperation between France and Taiwan, Long Ye expressed hope that Taiwanese companies would establish data centers in France. He pointed out that France possesses the most sustainable and affordable energy in Europe, making it a potential AI hub for the continent. This presents a significant opportunity for Taiwanese companies, and with Africa being a vast market for data centers, investing in France is also a strategic move for Taiwanese enterprises.

When Long Ye first arrived in Taiwan three years ago, France had just enacted its "Seven-Year Military Construction Law." Assessing the situation three years later, Long Ye "remains optimistic." He stated that despite geopolitical challenges, Taiwan and Europe still have considerable potential for cooperation. If technology can serve as a driving force for geopolitics, then European-Taiwanese cooperation can achieve many things, especially as governments worldwide seek solutions for digital sovereignty. Cooperation between Taiwan and Europe on digital sovereignty could become a platform to attract other partners.

Long Ye also announced the appointment of Frédéric Laplanche as the new Director of the French Office in Taipei. Laplanche previously served as the Head of the European Economic and Trade Office (EETO) and is a career diplomat familiar with Taiwan and fluent in Mandarin. Long Ye said, "Taiwan is addictive," and he has never heard of anyone visiting Taiwan and not wanting to return; Laplanche is a prime example. "The genuine and unpretentious friendliness of the Taiwanese people is my best experience in Taiwan." (Edited by Wan Shu-chen) 1150707

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