(UPDATES) THE US military is open to consultations about escorting Philippine ships in the disputed South China Sea, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command said Tuesday amid a spike in hostilities between Beijing and Manila in the disputed waters.

Adm. Samuel Paparo's remarks, which he made in response to a question during a news conference in Manila with Philippine Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., provided a glimpse of the mindset of one of the highest American military commanders outside the US mainland on a prospective operation that would risk putting US Navy ships in direct collisions with those of China.

Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships regularly clash with Philippine vessels during attempts to resupply Filipino sailors stationed in parts of the South China Sea claimed by both countries. As these clashes grow increasingly hostile, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to their ships, the Philippine government has faced questions about invoking a treaty alliance with Washington.

Paparo and Brawner spoke to reporters after an international military conference in Manila organized by the US Indo-Pacific Command, at which China's increasingly assertive actions in the South China Sea were spotlighted. Military and defense officials and diplomats from the US and allied countries attended, but there were no Chinese representatives.

Asked if the US military would consider escorting Philippine ships delivering food and other supplies to Filipino forces in the South China Sea, Paparo replied, "Certainly, within the context of consultations."

"Every option between the two sovereign nations in terms of our mutual defense, escort of one vessel to the other, is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty, among this close alliance between the two of us," Paparo said without elaborating.

Brawner responded cautiously to the suggestion, which could run afoul of Philippine laws, including a constitutional ban on foreign forces directly joining local combat operations.

"The attitude of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as dictated by the Philippine laws, is for us to first rely on ourselves," Brawner said. "We are going to try all options, all avenues that are available to us in order for us to achieve the mission... in this case, the resupply and rotation of our troops."

"We will then seek other options when we are already constrained from doing it ourselves," Brawner said.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said China is the "biggest disruptor" of peace in Southeast Asia as tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea escalate.

Teodoro made the remarks at a conference of the US Indo-Pacific Command after repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the waterway over the past 12 months.

"China... is the biggest disruptor of international peace in the Asean region," Teodoro said, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

China deploys boats to patrol the busy waterway and has built artificial islands that it has militarized to reinforce its claims.

Teodoro said he was confident China would be unable to "break apart the unity of Southeast Asian nations."

He urged other countries to call out China's "illegal acts" until it yields to pressure to stop its actions.

"We need a collective consensus and a strong call out against China," said Teodoro.

"We are struggling against a more powerful adversary."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., commander of the United Sates Indo-Pacific Command, during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 27, 2024. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., commander of the United Sates Indo-Pacific Command, during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 27, 2024. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., commander of the United Sates Indo-Pacific Command, during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 27, 2024. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., commander of the United Sates Indo-Pacific Command, during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 27, 2024. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., commander of the United Sates Indo-Pacific Command, during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 27, 2024. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. meets with Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., commander of the United Sates Indo-Pacific Command, during a courtesy call in Malacañang on Aug. 27, 2024. PPA POOL / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

His comments come a day after China said it took "control measures" against two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships that had entered waters near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

The PCG had sent two vessels to deliver provisions to one of its ships at the reef.

They were forced to abandon the mission due to China's "excessive" deployment of ships and rough sea conditions, Commo. Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the PCG, said Monday.

FRANCISCO TUYAY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE AND PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY