Sasakawa USA held a 3-day conference from May 18 to 20 in Palau as a part of the Networking the Neighbors of the Philippine Sea project. The Palau Conference welcomed high-level Pacific security experts from Japan, the U.S. (DC, Guam, and CNMI), Palau, the Philippines, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Taiwan. The purpose of the conference was to discuss opportunities for security cooperation in the region and to strengthen bonds among like-minded neighbors.
On Monday, May 18, participants visited the Republic of Palau’s Marine Law Enforcement building for a two-part briefing on maritime security. First, Mr. Peter Houlihan, founder and CEO of Biosphere Dynamics, presented how his company is using new technologies in partnership with the Government of Palau to identify illegal fishing vessels within Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Second, the Division of Marine Law Enforcement introduced the systems through which they monitor and defend Palau’s waters. Afterwards, participants were able to view various vessels used in patrols.
The conference officially began later that night with the Welcome Dinner, where participants were joined by local Palauan government officials (including several members of Congress) as well as representatives from all four local embassies (U.S., Japan, Australia, and Taiwan). The Welcome Dinner was moderated by Mr. Brian Harding, senior fellow at Sasakawa USA and NNPS project director. He was followed by Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, chairman and president of Sasakawa USA, who introduced Sasakawa USA and its activities. The keynote remarks were provided by President Surangel Whipps Jr., president of the Republic of Palau, who spoke on the importance of the conference, the various security threats facing Palau and its neighbors, and Palau’s strategies for collaborating with international partners.
Tuesday, May 19 comprised the core of the conference, where participants shared their expertise on six session topics through presentations and open discussion. Session topics included security dynamics in the Philippine Sea, international maritime law, and building whole of society resilience. Both Mr. Brian Harding and Dr. Satohiro Akimoto served as moderators for these sessions.
On Wednesday, May 20, participants set sail to Peleliu, where they toured World War II battle sites and memorials. Participants also received a briefing from U.S. Marines stationed on the island about ongoing infrastructure development projects.
After  the Peleliu Tour, the conference concluded with a Wrap-up Session, during which participants shared their final reflections and considered potential policy recommendations based on the conference discussions and presentations. The moderator for this session was Hon. Randall Schriver, chairman at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security, former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, and advisory committee member to Sasakawa USA.Â
In late 2026, Sasakawa USA will publish a report that highlights the key insights from the conference and offers policy proposals to strengthen security cooperation among like-minded partners in the Pacific. This report will later be made available on the Sasakawa USA website.
Several launch events discussing the report will also be held this fall in select cities among participating countries and territories.
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