The Philippines and China on Sunday reached a “provisional” agreement that aims to avoid confrontations at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea where Filipino troops are stationed on a marooned ship. The deal was reached after a series of consultations in Manila, following increasing tensions in the Second Thomas Shoal, locally called Ayungin Shoal, the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said. “The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China have reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to the BRP Sierra M…