The United States is discussing the possible deployment of more missile launchers to the Philippines to strengthen deterrence against aggression in the disputed South China Sea and other security hotspots,

The U.S. deployed two warships Wednesday to a disputed South China Sea shoal where two Chinese ships collided earlier in the week while trying to drive away a smaller Philippine ship in a high-seas incident that raised alarms about maritime safety.

The U.S. 7th Fleet rejected as “false” a claim by China that Chinese forces drove a U.S. destroyer away from a contested atoll in the South China Sea.