Anchoring diplomacy in reciprocity: Scholarship programs in Palau-Taiwan relations

Abstract

The governments of Palau and Taiwan established diplomatic relations in 1999. This dissertation focuses on Taiwan’s higher education scholarship aid to Palau. The Taiwan scholarships program was launched in 2005, and today there are over 200 Palauan students who have gained degrees in Taiwan. Taiwan-educated graduates returning to Palau have changed the political outlook of the country. While Taiwan’s relations with Oceanic nations are usually discussed in the Taiwan-China competition framework, I examine the Palau-Taiwan relations through the Indigenous Palauan epistemological principles Deleuill (relationship) and Klaingeseu (reciprocity). Doing so offers an alternative framework for understanding the intersection of diplomacy, Palau’s national development, and the lived experiences of Palauan students and alumni. Anchored in these principles, I center the voices of people, foregrounding the everyday practices that exemplify resilience and reciprocity. Using storytelling as a method, I present how Palauan students navigate multiple realms of knowledge, cultures, and worlds to contribute meaningfully to the development of their community and relationship with Taiwan. Through these narratives, I argue that the relationship between Palau and Taiwan is not merely transactional but is rooted in reciprocity—with Palauan values, perspectives, and knowledge actively contributing to the diplomatic relationship.