Overview:

President Surangel Whipps Jr. has criticized a letter sent by High Chief Reklai Bao Ngirmang to Japan’s ambassador concerning the Palau National Marine Sanctuary, saying the matter should have gone through official government channels. The exchange highlights differing views within Palau’s leadership over the management of the sanctuary and Japan’s push to reduce its protected area.

By: L.N. Reklai

KOROR, Palau — President Surangel Whipps Jr. expressed disappointment over a letter sent by High Chief Reklai Bao Ngirmang to Japan’s ambassador about the Palau National Marine Sanctuary (PNMS), saying that such matters should be handled through official government channels.

“When we talk about the Marine Sanctuary, I believe that only two entities can talk about it — the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment (MAFE) and the Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) — because we tasked them with the responsibility,” Whipps said at an Oct. 30 press conference.

Whipps said any communication between Palau and another government should go through the Office of the President. “The Palau Council of Chiefs, who is our advisor, should not write directly to the government of Japan,” he said. “So while we were in Japan attending a meeting, the Japanese handed us the letter from Reklai — not sure if it was on behalf of the Council of Chiefs or for himself — talking about the Marine Sanctuary.”

At the same press conference, Whipps reiterated that a study had found reducing the PNMS conservation area from 80% to 50% would be “optimal” for conservation purposes.

Whipps then directed Minister of State Gustav Aitaro to comment on the issue. Aitaro said the letter contained questions that should have been addressed to MAFE, not to Japan. “These questions should be addressed to Minister Victor of MAFE and his staff,” Aitaro said. “I will be frank — I am disappointed. The letter talks about a lot of things, including the bul, the law, and conservation measures.”

Aitaro also said that there is a difference between preservation and conservation, emphasizing that the PNMS was established as a conservation area and could therefore be reviewed or adjusted.

High Chief Reklai, however, said he was surprised by the President’s reaction. He explained that his letter followed a visit from Japan’s Ambassador Hiroyuki Orikasa and a delegation from the Okinawa fisheries sector in October. “They presented to me what they wanted, urging for a change to the PNMS law, and I responded in a letter to them,” Reklai said. “I told them that the PNMS is not just an enacted law but also a traditional bul, and to change it, the entire Palau leadership must sit together and address it.”

Reklai said he was responding to community concerns and noted that no independent study had yet been published on the PNMS. In his Oct. 22, 2025, letter to Ambassador Orikasa, he wrote, “We were informed that a scientific study would be commissioned by an independent body to assess the PNMS and make known the findings after completion of the study. We are not aware of the publication of any report on this subject to date.”

He added that the letter included questions from community members for Japan’s consideration.

Background: Japan and Okinawa Fisheries Call for PNMS Amendment