evidence: The population of the Tuva Republic is 300,000, the majority of which live in Kyzyl, the Republic’s capital. The rest are scattered randomly around its territory. A journey from one population centre to another can take up to five hours - this is an uninhabited region comprised almost completely of nature reserves, the majority of which don’t even have roads. [...] Tuva was the very last of the republics to come under the Soviet Union. Taiwan still lays claim to Tuvan territory and Tuva remains in a state of war with Germany. The history of Tuva is meandering and complicated, so Tuvans relate to everyone around them in a unique way. [...] What do you think of Taiwan’s claim on Tuvan territory? We asked - A representative of the local administration told us: ‘We don’t even understand ourselves why they have become obsessed with us. Well, let them lay claim, what is it to us?’ he continued: ‘We are still at war with Germany’ he laughs ‘A representative from the Bundestag came to nearby Khakasin and we were there too. We asked him, well, are we going to make peace? - He said it is long overdue. We have yet to get around it though, them and us’. We asked him ‘What do you think of the Russians?’ ‘What is there to think!?" he said in surprise ‘We live alongside them, do you know how many Russians live in Tuva? We have Chinese here and even one American.’