US ships could protect Pacific Allies ships from China: Admiral

Paparo noted that “escorting one ship to another is a perfectly reasonable option under our Mutual Defense Treaty” with the Philippines, which was signed in 1951 and explicitly states that both nations will come to the aid of the other if they are attacked.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the current conflict in the South China Sea has not yet risen to the level of the need to activate the treaty.

Paparo’s comments align with his previous statements on the issue, including reaffirming the US commitment to come to the aid of the Philippines if needed and denouncing China’s aggressive behavior in the region.

Paparo did not explain what types of US ships would escort the Philippine ships. It is also unclear whether the Philippines would want such support, with Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner saying Manila likes to conduct supply missions on its own, even as China repeatedly interferes with those missions.

“We will try all options, all avenues that are available to us,” Brawner told reporters, according to Reuters. “Although we can do it alone, we will.”

But if the Philippines could not continue its missions independently, he added, it would look for alternative options.

China and the Philippines have clashed frequently in recent months as Beijing seeks to illegally assert control over disputed areas in the South China Sea, such as Scarborough Shoal.

Major maritime engagements often involved Chinese coast guard vessels harassing Philippine ships with water cannons or ramming them.

But there were other struggles. Earlier this month, for example, the Philippines accused China’s Air Force of endangering one of its light transport aircraft flying over the region. Manila said China’s jets flew very close to the plane and fired just under ten missiles into its path. Then, a few days ago, the Chinese military was accused of doing the same thing again.