China and the Philippines announce deal aimed at stopping stop clashes at fiercely disputed shoal

China and the Philippines say they have reached a deal intended to end confrontations at the most fiercely disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The Philippines occupies Second Thomas Shoal but China also claims it, and increasingly hostile flare-ups between them have sparked fears of larger conflict that could involve the United States. The deal was reached after a series of meetings between Philippine and Chinese diplomats in Manila and exchanges of diplomatic notes that aimed to reach an arrangement at the shoal without conceding either side's territorial claims. Neither side provided any details on the deal announced Sunday.