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Palau, The Forgotten Close Neighbor of Southeast Asia. Why Does It Matter?

Palau, The Forgotten Close Neighbor of Southeast Asia. Why Does It Matter?
Palau Rock Islands from above © Unsplash.com

Palau, a tiny archipelago in the Western Pacific, is often overlooked when it comes to discussions about Southeast Asia. Despite being located just a few hundred kilometers from the Philippines and Indonesia, Palau is often forgotten as a close neighbor of Southeast Asia. However, Palau is a nation that matters to Southeast Asia as a whole for several reasons.

Firstly, Palau shares cultural and historical ties with Southeast Asia. The early settlers of Palau were Austronesian people who migrated to the island from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Over the centuries, Palau has been ruled by various foreign powers, including Spain, Germany, and Japan, all of which have left a lasting impact on the nation's culture and history. Palau also shares similar customs, traditions, and beliefs with neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

Palau location
Palau location

 

Secondly, Palau's strategic location in the Western Pacific makes it an important partner for Southeast Asian nations. The archipelago is located at the crossroads of major shipping routes, and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is home to some of the world's most biodiverse waters. This makes Palau a valuable partner for Southeast Asian countries in areas such as maritime security, fisheries management, and environmental conservation.

Moreover, Palau's inclusion in the Southeast Asian region could bring many benefits for both Palau and the member states. Palau could benefit from increased trade and investment, tourism, and cultural exchange with Southeast Asian countries. At the same time, Southeast Asian countries could benefit from Palau's unique cultural and ecological attractions, its strategic location in the Pacific, and its role as a bridge between the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

In conclusion, Palau may be a small nation, but its importance to Southeast Asia as a whole cannot be overlooked. Palau's cultural, historical, and strategic ties to Southeast Asia, as well as its potential for regional cooperation, make it a valuable partner for the region. As Southeast Asian nations continue to strengthen their partnerships with the Pacific Island nations, Palau should not be forgotten as a close neighbor and an important member of the Southeast Asian community.

References:

"Palau: Geopolitical Profile." Center for Strategic and International Studies, 8 October 2020, https://www.csis.org/programs/southeast-asia-program/palau-geopolitical-profile.
"Palau." Pacific Islands Forum, https://www.forumsec.org/country/palau/.
"Palau: A Strategic Partner in the Pacific." U.S. Department of State, 20 September 2019, https://www.state.gov/palau-a-strategic-partner-in-the-pacific/.

 

Palau location
Palau location

 

Akhyari Hananto

I began my career in the banking industry in 1997, and stayed approx 6 years in it. This industry boost his knowledge about the economic condition in Indonesia, both macro and micro, and how to More understand it. My banking career continued in Yogyakarta when I joined in a program funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB),as the coordinator for a program aimed to help improve the quality of learning and teaching process in private universities in Yogyakarta. When the earthquake stroke Yogyakarta, I chose to join an international NGO working in the area of ?disaster response and management, which allows me to help rebuild the city, as well as other disaster-stricken area in Indonesia. I went on to become the coordinator for emergency response in the Asia Pacific region. Then I was assigned for 1 year in Cambodia, as a country coordinator mostly to deliver developmental programs (water and sanitation, education, livelihood). In 2009, he continued his career as a protocol and HR officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Surabaya, and two years later I joined the Political and Economic Section until now, where i have to deal with extensive range of people and government officials, as well as private and government institution troughout eastern Indonesia. I am the founder and Editor-in-Chief in Good News From Indonesia (GNFI), a growing and influential social media movement, and was selected as one of The Most Influential Netizen 2011 by The Marketeers magazine. I also wrote a book on "Fundamentals of Disaster Management in 2007"?, "Good News From Indonesia : Beragam Prestasi Anak Bangsa di dunia"? which was luanched in August 2013, and "Indonesia Bersyukur"? which is launched in Sept 2013. In 2014, 3 books were released in which i was one of the writer; "Indonesia Pelangi Dunia"?, "Indonesia The Untold Stories"? and "Growing! Meretas Jalan Kejayaan" I give lectures to students in lectures nationwide, sharing on full range of issues, from economy, to diplomacy Less
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