▁the ▁Western ▁Pacific ▁Naval ▁Sym pos ium . ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁volunt ary ▁initi ative ▁among ▁the ▁nav ies ▁and ▁mar itime ▁security ▁ag encies ▁of ▁the ▁member ▁nations . ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁the ▁sym pos iums , ▁numerous ▁other ▁activities ▁like ▁work sh ops , ▁ess ay ▁compet itions ▁and ▁lect ures ▁are ▁also ▁held ▁under ▁the ▁um bre lla ▁of ▁the ▁organization . ▁ ▁M embers ▁and ▁obser vers ▁ ▁The ▁ 2 4 ▁member ▁nations ▁of ▁the ▁I ON S ▁are ▁grouped ▁into ▁four ▁sub - reg ions . ▁ ▁M embers ▁ ▁Ob ser vers ▁ ▁There ▁are ▁eight ▁states ▁with ▁observer ▁status : ▁China , ▁Germany , ▁Italy , ▁Japan , ▁Mad agas car , ▁Netherlands , ▁Russia ▁and ▁Spain . ▁ ▁List ▁of ▁sym pos iums ▁ ▁References ▁▁ ▁Category : Ind ian ▁Ocean ▁Category : Intern ational ▁organizations <0x0A> </s> ▁William ▁B ue h ler ▁Se ab ro ok ▁( F ebru ary ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 8 4 ▁– ▁September ▁ 2 0 , ▁ 1 9 4 5 ) ▁was ▁an ▁American ▁occ ult ist , ▁expl orer , ▁travel er , ▁can n ib al , ▁and ▁journalist , ▁born ▁in ▁West min ster , ▁Maryland . ▁He ▁began ▁his ▁career ▁as ▁a ▁rep orter ▁and ▁City ▁Editor ▁of ▁the ▁August a ▁Chron icle ▁in ▁Georgia ▁and ▁later ▁became ▁a ▁partner ▁in ▁an ▁advert ising ▁ag ency ▁in ▁Atlanta . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁ ▁Se ab ro ok ▁graduated ▁from