Japanese troops drill on island seen as vulnerable to China

Japanese marines in amphibious assault vehicles stormed an island beach at the edge of the East China Sea on Sunday (Nov 19) in a simulated attack to dislodge invaders from territory that Tokyo worries is vulnerable to attack from China.

A Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) soldier takes part in a marine landing drill as a part of the country's nationwide 05JX military exercises at Tokunoshima island, Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan, N

Japanese marines in amphibious assault vehicles stormed an island beach at the edge of the East China Sea on Sunday (Nov 19) in a simulated attack to dislodge invaders from territory that Tokyo worries is vulnerable to attack from China.

As tensions run high with neighbours China, Russia and North Korea, the drill on the southwest island of Tokunoshima capped an 11-day series of exercises nationwide dubbed 05JX, meant to show the readiness of ground, sea and air forces to defend Japan's territory and infrastructure, including nuclear power plants.

Ground Self-Defence Force amphibious assault vehicles launched from two Maritime Self-Defense Force landing ships anchored offshore. Other troops arrived in semi-inflatable rubber boats, with heavy equipment carried to shore on military hovercraft.