On June 7, the National Human Rights Museum (NHRM) and the French Office in Taipei co-hosted a talk featuring artist-in-residence Frédéric Lemaître. Titled “Does Freedom still Matter?”, the session saw the French author and journalist explore the pressing issues regarding human rights in China as well as fundamental freedoms in the digital age.
Lemaître served as a journalist at “Le Monde,” France’s largest newspaper, for nearly three decades. He has authored several books on French society and the global economy. He was stationed in Germany from 2010 to 2016 and in Beijing from 2018 to 2023. During his posting in Beijing, he visited Taiwan multiple times to gain a deeper understanding of its political landscape and vibrant culture. His latest book, “The Five Years I Spent in Xi Jinping’s China,” published by Tallandier in January 2024, was awarded the Jean Lacouture Prize in France.
During the session, Lemaître addressed human rights issues in China, noting a shrinking space for freedom of speech under increasing governmental control. He emphasized that while some space for expression remains, it is tolerated only insofar as it does not threaten the ruling power.
He also stressed the importance of paying close attention to how authoritarian regimes censor and manipulate information, pointing out that censorship not only erases facts but also rewrites history.
The author observed that contemporary democratic politics, increasingly influenced by the pervasive reach of social media and algorithms, has thrust controversial remarks into the spotlight. This troubling trend has given rise to extreme positions that prioritize sensationalism over truth-seeking, he said. Moreover, Lemaître also underscored that freedom is rooted in mutual respect and collective consensus, rather than the will of a few in power.
Lemaître concluded by sharing his goal for his residency: to write a novel about Taiwan and China. He revealed that key parts of the story will be set in Taipei and inspired by his time at the NHRM.
