You're reading: Japan says its forces carrying out only routine surveillance

TOKYO - Japan's armed forces are not engaged in any unusual or extraordinary activities beyond routine surveillance, a defence ministry spokesman said on Thursday, Sept. 20.

“We are not doing anything beyond routine surveillance
activities,” the spokesman said in response to a Reuters query.

Currency markets moved following a media report suggesting
that China’s military was on heightened alert because of tension
over a disputed island chain.