China loophole: Why Taiwan relies on Indigenous diplomacy

Ulung Lupiliyan remembers feeling nervous as he stood in front of a classroom, more than 6,600 miles away from home, preparing to give a lecture to about 40 students at the University of French Polynesia on the island of Tahiti. It was Fall of 2018, and he was nearing the end of a 20-day trip spent hopping from one tropical island to another, visiting Indigenous communities, cultural centers, and even a tattoo festival.

As he started presenting on contemporary Indigenous issues in Taiwan, Mr. Lupiliyan’s anxiety dissipated. The students were curious about him and his people, and shocked by similarities between their languages.

Mr. Lupiliyan left the classroom feeling more connected to Polynesian people and culture, but it wasn’t