US China news update: USA renews warning it would defend Philippines after China spat93% of Hong Kong protest cases completed$300,000 of stolen Legos recovered by retail theft task forceSouth China Sea: Beijing slams US‘Corrosive obsession with a person’s race’: David Seymour on Māori WardsDepartment of Internal Affairs announces cuts, winds up water reform teamsRussia, China condemn Australian nuclear submarine dealWellington workforce reeling from public service job cutsSouth China Sea news: USVOX POPULI: Ippei Mizuhara’s interpretation skills make the news even sadder