Okinawa Times and Ryukyu Shimpo played up the GOJ’s plan to reduce its FY2022 budget for Okinawa development by 20% from the previous year, explaining that the bulk of the cut, which is about 60 billion yen ($526 million), is related to “lump-sum grants” that the prefectural government is allowed to use at its discretion without central government guidance. The papers expressed shock and dismay at the hefty cutback, speculating that it represents the Kishida administration’s “cold treatment” of the prefectural government led by Governor Tamaki, who remains adamant in his opposition to the FRF construction initiative.