There are 754.5 thousands Chinese ethnic immigrants and descendants living in France, just one percent of French population. Two third of Chinese population came from Mainland China, while the rest from East and Southeast Asia, including Taiwan.
The rupture of diplomatic relation between ROC and France in 1964 made Taiwan invisible in French territory, until Association pour la Promotion des Echanges Commerciaux et Touristiques avec Taiwan (ASPECT) was founded in Paris in 1972 to promote the bilateral relationship pragmatically. After years of negotiation between the two countries, ASPECT was renamed as Bureau de Représentation de Taipei en France (BRTF).
The fact that Immigrants from Taiwan are too few to be noticed doesn't keep our compatriots from starting associations all over France to sustain our values and beliefs. Some Chinese ethnic immigrants from Southeast Asia studied or stayed in Taiwan during the years of 1970, or received Mandarin education in the childhood. They consider themselves as friends of ROC. Various kinds of associations, overseas compatriot schools and friends make multifarious activities possible during special occasions.
In addition, religious groups from Taiwan display the potentiality of purifying the soul and strongly promote community services of volunteers, enticing various ethnic communities to join their activities. These believers prompted Fo-Guan Shan to establish its European headquarters in Bussy St. Georges, a small city 30 kilometers from Paris. The branch office of Tzu chi Foundation, situated in 13th arrondissement of Paris, is another telling example.
There are 11 overseas compatriot schools using textbooks supplied by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, through which traditional Chinese culture and language well-preserved in Taiwan are transferred to young generations. Some of the schools organize language tours in Taiwan during summer vacation, while the others fervently participate in Lunar New Year Festival sponsored by the city government of their hometown. One way or another, they recognize their presence in a multi-cultural society' and intend to share mainstream values.
Update Date：
2020/09/22 Back
