FSM History
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2023–2026

Teacher pack: Recent years

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FSM HistoryLesson pack 10 of 10

Recent years 2023–2026

Summary

In May 2023 Congress chose Chuuk’s Wesley Simina as the tenth president, two months after his predecessor, David Panuelo, charged China with bribery in a letter. Compact III funding became US law in March 2024, but the money arrived late, and in 2025 the US Interior Department warned it could withhold funds over late FSM audits. In 2026 Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck Chuuk, and President Simina acknowledged a “possible setback” after a US admiral called the FSM’s $1.3 billion compensation demand for a Yap defense site unreasonable, though talks continued in August.

Main topics: 2023 brought a warning letter and a new compact; 2024–2025 saw slow money and a midterm election; 2026 brought a typhoon, a base dispute and a Japan summit; What comes next.

Full chapter: Recent years

Mini-timeline

Key events, 2023–2026, with one source each
2023 (7 Mar) Merlynn Abello-Alfonso becomes the first Pohnpeian woman senator; Konman is re-elected. [PacWIP]
2023 (2023) The 2023 census counts 75,817 people, about 26% fewer than in 2010. [GAO-26-107778]
2024 (17 Sep) VP Palik opens the 19th PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement) ministerial meeting in Pohnpei. [gov.fm, Sep 2024]
2025 (4 Mar–15 Apr) Disputed Chuuk governor’s election: rival election commissions and uncounted ballots. Narruhn declares an emergency (10 Apr); a scuffle breaks out at his 15 Apr swearing-in. [Island Times]
2025 (c. 22 May (release 28 May)) Governor Charles Chieng dies and Lt. Gov. Francis Itimai succeeds him. Chieng’s death date is given as about 22 May or as 28 May. [gov.fm]
2025 (18 Aug) East Micronesia Cable lands in Kosrae; SubTel Forum reports the landing in early September. [gov.fm, Aug 2025]
2025 (26 Sep) Simina addresses UNGA80 and meets President Trump on the sidelines. [gov.fm, Sep 2025]
2026 (13 Jan) Congress seats Andrew Yatilman as Yap’s four-year senator at its Third Regular Session. [Congress of the FSM]
2026 (23–29 Mar) Simina visits Australia: meets Albanese, dedicates the FSM embassy in Canberra (24 Mar), signs security MOUs (29 Mar). [gov.fm, Mar 2026]
2026 (27–28 May) FSM–US Joint Committee on defense and security meets in Guam. [gov.fm, Jun 2026]
2026 (6–7 Aug) Simina vetoes Congressional Acts 24-119 and 24-103, then signs other priority legislation. [gov.fm, Aug 2026]
2026 (2026 (48th session)) UNESCO keeps Nan Madol on the Danger List and wants a plan aligned with Pohnpeian living traditions. [UNESCO Decision 48 COM 7A.25]

Discussion questions

  1. What was in President Panuelo’s 2023 letter, and how did others respond?

  2. What did the Compact III agreements commit, and what slowed the money?

  3. Why did the Yap defense site become a dispute in 2026?

  4. How did Typhoon Sinlaku affect Chuuk, and why do the death counts differ?

  5. What decisions are coming in 2027, and how could young people take part?

Quiz

Circle one letter for each multiple-choice question. Write short answers on the lines. For ordering questions, fill the boxes in order, earliest first.

  1. Whom did Congress elect as the FSM’s tenth president in May 2023, and which state is he from?

  2. Where were the Compact III agreements signed on 23 May 2023?

    1. A Palikir
    2. B Port Moresby
    3. C Washington, D.C.
    4. D Honolulu

  3. Source question Why do reports give different death tolls for Super Typhoon Sinlaku?

  4. Why did the planned US defense site on Yap run into trouble in 2026?

  5. Put these in order, earliest first:

    1. A Super Typhoon Sinlaku hits Chuuk
    2. B The US enacts Compact III funding
    3. C President Panuelo’s letter about China
    4. D The midterm election fills 10 of 14 seats in Congress

    Earliest Latest

fsm-history.kamorale.com/teachers/recent/

Teacher copyLesson pack 10 of 10

Teacher copy Recent years, 2023–2026

Answer key

Each answer, with the explanation and where it comes from on this site.

  1. Who · Short answer

    Whom did Congress elect as the FSM’s tenth president in May 2023, and which state is he from?

    Answer: Wesley Simina, of Chuuk.

    Sources: Recent years chapter: “2023 brought a warning letter and a new compact”; Timeline entry, 11 May 2023 [gov.fm]

  2. Where · Multiple choice

    Where were the Compact III agreements signed on 23 May 2023?

    Answer: A. A planned signing in Port Moresby was cancelled.

    Sources: Recent years chapter: “2023 brought a warning letter and a new compact”; Timeline entry, 23 May 2023 [gov.fm]

  3. Why do sources differ · Short answer Source question

    Why do reports give different death tolls for Super Typhoon Sinlaku?

    Answer: Different agencies gave different counts. OCHA’s first count was 7, WHO reported 5 plus one missing, and PINA reported 4 in Chuuk. The final toll has not been confirmed.

    Sources: Recent years chapter: “2026 brought a typhoon, a base dispute and a Japan summit”; Contested facts: Sinlaku deaths

  4. Why · Short answer

    Why did the planned US defense site on Yap run into trouble in 2026?

    Answer: On 29 June 2026, Admiral Paparo wrote to President Simina that the FSM’s $1.3 billion compensation demand was unreasonable and that the command would look at other locations. In August, Simina acknowledged a “possible setback” in a letter to Yap’s governor.

    Source: Recent years chapter: “2026 brought a typhoon, a base dispute and a Japan summit”

  5. Which came first · Ordering

    Put these in order, earliest first:

    Answer: C (March 2023), B (March 2024), D (March 2025), A (April 2026).

    Source: Recent years chapter: “2023 brought a warning letter and a new compact”, “2024–2025 saw slow money and a midterm election”, “2026 brought a typhoon, a base dispute and a Japan summit”

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