A groundbreaking genomic analysis published today reveals that the first Austronesian-speaking populations migrated from the Fujian province of China to Taiwan approximately 5,000 years ago. By sequencing the DNA of Neolithic remains, scientists identified a direct genetic continuity between the Tanshishan culture and the ancestors of modern Indigenous Taiwanese groups.
The study clarifies the 'Out of Taiwan' model, confirming that while Taiwan was the primary launchpad for the expansion into Polynesia, the genetic roots lie in the maritime cultures of mainland Asia. This research helps reconstruct the complex migration patterns of the Pacific's early explorers.