FSM Congress passes a Faichuk statehood law; President Nakayama vetoes it later that year.

What happened

Faichuk, the western islands of Chuuk Lagoon, had reportedly voted heavily for separation from Truk District in 1977. The Habele wiki says Nakayama vetoed the statehood law over “economic concerns” and fears of further breakup elsewhere. This account rests on a thinly cited secondary source; no FSM Congress record of the bill or the veto has been found.

Why it matters

Hanlon writes that a Faichuk state would have upset the “very tenuous and fragile balance of power” among the four states.