U.S. ships could escort Philippine vessels on resupply missions in the South China Sea, a top admiral said on Tuesday (August 27), describing what he called an "an entirely reasonable option" that required consultation between the treaty allies.

The remarks, which are likely to annoy China, were made by Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, after a series of maritime and air confrontations between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea in the past week.

"Escort of one vessel to the other is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty," Paparo told reporters on the sidelines of a military forum organized by the Indo-Pacific Command.

Beijing has pressed its claim to the disputed conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, while Manila has kept up supply missions, particularly those to a beached naval ship on the hotly contested Second Thomas Shoal.

(Production: Jay Ereno, Adrian Portugal)