Yomiuri and Mainichi wrote that they learned from a GOJ source on Thursday that the Ministry of Defense has decided to seek over 5.4 trillion yen ($49 billion) in funding for fiscal 2022, speculating that this is aimed at beefing up the capabilities of the SDF to counter China’s military buildup. The request would exceed the ministry’s highest-ever 5.3-trillion yen initial budget for fiscal 2021 that started in April.