A Japanese military patrol plane circled over disputed parts of the South China Sea yesterday at the start of an exercise with the Philippine military that has irked China. According to Japanese and Philippine officials, the Japanese P3-C Orion surveillance plane, with three Filipino guest crewmembers, flew at 1,524 meters above the edge of Recto (Reed) Bank, an energy-rich area that is claimed by both the Philippines and China. It was accompanied by a smaller Philippine patrol aircraft. The disputed waters are close to the Spratly Islands, which the Philippines also claims, where China is building a series of man-made islands.

Japan spy plane circles disputed waters. (2015, June 24). The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 4.