A Japanese military patrol plane circled over disputed parts of the South China Sea on June 23, 2015 at the start of an exercise with the Philippine military that has irked China. The Japanese P3-C Orion surveillance plane, with three Filipino guest crew members, flew at 5,000 feet (1,524 m) above the edge of Reed Bank, an energy-rich area that is claimed by both China and the Philippines. It was accompanied by a smaller Philippine patrol aircraft. Maritime Self Defense Force Commander Hiromi Hamano, head of the Japanese navy contingent, said after the P3-C returned to Palawan that "This is our first time here and also with this kind of activity with the Philippines."