经济援助是日本维护国家利益、获取国际声望和提升软实力的重要手段。帕劳重要的战略位置和丰富的海洋资源及其曾经作为日本殖民地的历史，使得帕劳成为日本重要的政府开发援助对象。日本对帕劳的援助既有获取海洋资源的经济利益考量和加大国际政治投资的意图，也有安全需求的考量。日本对帕劳的政府开发援助始于20世纪80年代，以无偿的资金援助和技术合作援助为主，基础设施建设和渔业是援助的重点领域。日本对帕劳的政府开发援助促进了帕劳经济社会的现代化进程，推动了日本与帕劳双边关系的发展，但也极大地改变了帕劳传统的经济模式和社会生活方式，加剧了帕劳经济的脆弱性和依赖性。
Economic aid is an important means for Japan to protect national interests，obtain international reputation and enhance its soft power. As a Japanese ex-colony，Palau occupies an important strategic position and owns rich marine resources，so Palau has become Japan’s important aid-receiving country. Accessing to economic interests of marine resources，international political interests and security interests are the core aims of Japan’s assistance to Palau. Since the 1980s，Japan has provided ODA to Palau. Japan’s ODA to Palau consists mainly of grant aid and technical cooperation. Aid programs focus on infrastructure construction and fishery industry. On the one hand，Japan’s ODA has promoted the modernization of Palau and the development of Japan-Palau bilateral relations. On the other hand，Japan’s ODA has changed the traditional economic model of Palau and the lifestyle of its people，aggravated Palau’s economic vulnerability and dependency.
