US naval ship visits New Zealand after PLA Navy ships showed up in the Tasman Sea several months ago. With NZ planning to increase defense spending does this mean a closer defense relationship between the two countries since the breakup of ANZUS in the late 1980s? Philippine midterm elections shows the strength of political dynasties in the Philippines and the seeming weakness of Philippine political institutions. Is this a sign of poor institutional design? Wall Street Journal reports that US is planning to reduce the number of soldiers based in South Korea and Singapore warns foreign embassies not to interfere in domestic affairs.