The outgoing head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan (EETO), Frederic Laplanche, has had a 20-year love affair with Taiwan, which he said would leave him hooked on the nation even though he is stepping down from his current post soon.
In an interview with the Central News Agency prior to his departure at the end of this month, Laplanche said that when he first came to Taiwan in 1995 as a student, his purpose was to study Taiwan’s democratization. He said he still vividly remembers Taipei when he arrived in July 1995 — a hot and humid city bustling with the construction of the MRT system.
Laplanche said that one of the factors that brought him to Taiwan 20 years ago was his friendship with a Taiwanese girl, who later became his life partner.
The change since then has been dramatic, he said, adding that Taipei is now a comfortable living environment, with its many coffee shops and the rise in people’s living standards.
People here now also care very much about the arts and environmental issues, Laplanche said.
From the perspectives of a democratic society and economic development, “I would say the EU and Taiwan are very close,” he said.
He has been most impressed by the rapid development of Taiwan’s democracy, and he admires Taiwan’s democratic institutions for ensuring efficient elections, and protecting freedom of speech and human rights.
However, where Taiwan still falls short is on the death penalty, Laplanche said, an issue where he sees plenty of room for improvement in Taiwan, which has stuck to capital punishment because of wide popular support.
He served as EETO Taipei’s deputy director from 2004 to 2008 and has headed the EETO since 2011.
Laplanche has been active in promoting non-governmental organization exchanges between the EU and Taiwan, covering areas such as consumer rights, environmental protection and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) rights.
He said the EU is to cooperate with Taiwan in October in the LGBT area, because the nation’s friendly attitude toward homosexual groups can serve as an example of protecting LGBT rights across Asia.
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