Adm. Paparo writes that the FSM’s $1.3B compensation demand for the Yap defense site is unreasonable and that alternative sites will be assessed.

What happened

Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, wrote that the demand was “unreasonable” and that the command would assess “alternative locations across the region.” The projects centred on upgrading Yap’s airport for military use. The report comes from an analysis piece by Cleo Paskal, which itself criticizes Yap’s negotiating position; one former Compact negotiator it quotes read Simina’s later letter as an opening offer.