 Amphibious vehicles launched from a warship were seen landing on an island on November 17, as part of 11-day nationwide military drills underway in Japan to prepare its air, sea, and land forces for a potential conflict in East Asia. Hovercraft delivered amphibious assault vehicles to Tokunoshima in Japan's southwest during the exercise. Ahead of another marine landing drill scheduled to take place this weekend, the drills, which end on November 20, also include an air defense exercise in Japan's. North and simulated attacks on five nuclear reactors, including the Fukushima plant, such military exercises are set to expand in scope and become more frequent after Prime Minister Fumi Okishida in December unveiled a military build-up that will double defense spending over the next five years to bolster Japan's self-defense forces against possible adversaries, including China.