By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Too often we wonder—if not denounce—what may seem to us as desperation or an irrational cry for attention. Why, we ask, would people choose such belligerent forms of protest when there are more conventional platforms, such as petitions, public hearings and peaceful demonstrations.

The tariff hullabaloo presented a rare, serendipitous occasion when we found consolation in the isolated perks of Guam’s status as an unincorporated territory—an arrangement that is generally far from ideal.

How China triggers domestic division in Pacific island nations Against the backdrop of crystal-clear blue waters, China’s...