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A Taiwanese in the United Nations — where Taiwan could not enter, he found a way in.
As an economic expert, he has travelled across the world whereupon he provided his expertise to a number of countries.
He is an internationally seasoned Taiwanese, standing atop the world stage and where he conducts his exquisite performance.
Lo Fu-chen is a Taiwanese who left his hometown far behind and made his own way into international academic elite circle. He is neither a suitcase-carrying businessman nor a diplomat dispatched by government. He is but himself.
During the era when ROC (Taiwan) was repelled from the UN, it became isolated from international society and Taiwan’s political structure was quite enclosed. Lo Fu-chen couldn’t go back to Taiwan because of political reasons, however with a UN passport in hand, he was able to travel around the globe as a world citizen.
By what stroke of luck did a boy born in Sakaemachi, Chiayi left home for 40 years, unable to return, yet shines so brightly from atop the world stage?
Born in Sakaemachi, Chiayi during the Japanese colonial era, Lo went to Tokyo as an overseas student at the young age of 6. He went back to Taiwan after the war. After he graduated from college, he went to Japan to study again and eventually received his doctorate degree in Regional Science from University of Pennsylvania.
During the 1960s, when he was working on his doctorate degree at UPenn, he joined a pro Taiwan independence march and was thus blacklisted by the KMT government ─ not only was he forbidden to return to Taiwan, but he also became a man without nationality. In the 1970s, he was recruited by the UN to work at Nogoya’s UN Center for Regional Development due to his distinguished academic performance. He helped developing countries to establish their economies. He was also invited by countries such as India, Iran, Malaysia, etc. to work as their economic consultant. For 27 years, with UN passport in hand, he flew around the world working for the well-being of the people.
Just when he was ready to enjoy his retirement, the government in Taiwan changed hands. The new government wanted to use his connections in Japan as well as his economic expertise, and appointed him to the position of Taiwan’s top representative to Japan. His life thus took a big turn. Switching to politics at the age of 65, his greatest achievement in his 4-year term as top representative was to successfully negotiate former President Lee Tung-hui’s trip to Japan, which was indeed a great diplomatic breakthrough.
Lo is like a versatile Renaissance-man. Other than his economic expertise, he writes poems, does calligraphy, draws, sings, and even cooks. Through his eyes and stories, we are able to take a peek into his world of the past half century.
Narrator
Fu-chen Lo
Born 1935 in Sakaemachi, Chiayi, Taiwan. B.A. in Economics, National Taiwan University, M.A. in Economics, Waseda University, Japan. PhD in Regional Science, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
As a distinguished economics scholar, Lo Fu-chen was recruited by the UN Center for Regional Development and the United Nations University. His books have been collected by 4709 libraries worldwide.
Since he worked for an international organization, flying became part of his life. He toured various countries, took part in international conferences, and helped solve world economic issues. At his leisure, he savored cuisines globally, collected antique, calligraphies and paintings, and even went up Mount Everest on a helicopter. His life experience is both diverse and rich.
He can write poems, draw, sing and cook. Had he not become an economist, he probably would become a painter, a poet or a singer.
In year 2000, Lo gave up his US citizenship and took up the position as Taiwan’s top representative to Japan. After serving 4 years at the Represeatative Office, he charied the Association of East Asian Relations in 2004 until his retirement in 2007. He now resides in Taipei with his wife.
Author
Rou-jin Chen
Rou-jin Chen was a journalist, who is now a columnist. She specializes in historic writing, and is the author of many best-selling books. She has won the Good Book Award from China Times, Best Ten Non-fiction Award from United Daily News, and Golden Tripod Awards for Publications twice from the Ministry of Culture of Taiwan.
Translator
Yew Leong Lee
Lee Yew Leong is the founding editor of Asymptote. He is the author of three hypertexts, one of which won the James Assatly Memorial Prize for Fiction (Brown University). He has written for The New York Times and DIAGRAM among other publications.
Proofreader
Lanny T. Chen
Once a columnist and editor of Taiwan Tribune, Lanny T. Chen now concentrates on book translation. Her works include the Chinese version of Moll Flanders (by Daniel Defoe), Alma Mahler or the Art of Being Loved (by Francoise Giroud), Forbidden Nation ─ A History of Taiwan (by Jonathan Manthrope), Formosa Betrayed (by George Kerr) etc.
CONTENTS
Introduction / Eva Lou ― 10
Preface ― 15
