French Scholar Lu Song Wins 29th Taiwan-France Cultural Award Emphasizing Taiwan's Historical Agency

The 29th Taiwan-France Cultural Award held its award ceremony in Paris on the 15th of this month, with French scholar Victor Louzon named as this year's laureate. Louzon has long dedicated himself to the study of Taiwan's contemporary political history and the transitional period of 1945. In his acceptance speech, he specifically pointed out that "the people of Taiwan are the subjects of their own history, not supporting actors in the narratives of major powers." His award is not only an affirmation of his personal academic achievements, but also symbolizes the deepening of cultural exchanges between Taiwan and France.

Since its inception, the Taiwan-France Cultural Award has been held for nearly thirty editions. It aims to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, artistic, and academic fields of both countries, while promoting interaction between the private and public sectors of both sides. Co-organized by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and French cultural authorities, past laureates span diverse fields including literature, music, film, and historical research, making the award an important platform for Taiwan to showcase its cultural soft power internationally. Each award ceremony is held in Paris, symbolizing the continuous deepening of friendly relations between Taiwan and France while providing Taiwanese artists and scholars with opportunities to engage in dialogue with their European peers.

Louzon's research focuses on Taiwan's social transformation following the end of World War II, particularly the transitional period in 1945 when Japanese rule ended and the Nationalist government took over. This phase was not only a reorganization of the political system, but also a critical moment in the formation of Taiwan's identity and historical memory. Through extensive archival materials and oral histories, Louzon has reconstructed the lived experiences of the Taiwanese people at the political, economic, and cultural levels during that era, challenging past historical interpretations dominated by the perspectives of major powers. His writings have been listed as required reading by numerous universities, holding significant importance for enhancing the depth and breadth of domestic historical research.

In his speech, Louzon emphasized the view that "Taiwan is the subject of its own history," intending to remind the international community that Taiwan's history should not be solely dictated by the strategic layouts of external forces. This remark carries particular weight in the current international political landscape, as Taiwan's role in global supply chains and the technology industry becomes increasingly prominent while simultaneously facing diplomatic pressure from major powers. Louzon called upon the academic and cultural communities to re-examine history from a localized perspective, ensuring that Taiwan's story occupies its rightful place in the global narrative.

Officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Culture expressed gratification over Louzon's award, noting that the prize not only affirms the influence of Taiwanese scholarship on the international academic stage, but also highlights Taiwan's unique contributions to the field of historical research. The French side responded by stating that Louzon's research provides a new entry point for deepening cultural dialogue between the two nations, and that future cooperative projects will continue to be supported. Academics generally believe that Louzon's award helps raise the international visibility of Taiwanese historical research while encouraging more local scholars to participate in global academic dialogue using autonomous historical perspectives.

Louzon's award and speech inject new momentum into Taiwan's self-positioning within the international cultural and academic spheres. Through bilateral platforms such as the Taiwan-France Cultural Award, Taiwan can not only showcase its rich historical and cultural assets, but also strive for the right to an ego-centric historical narrative within the context of globalization. In the future, the Taiwan-France Cultural Award will continue to serve as a bridge, allowing more of Taiwan's voices to be heard by the world and promoting deep cooperation between the two countries in cultural creativity and academic research. (Source: Central News Agency)