Another edition of the highs of Asian blogging:

Hong Kong, Taiwan and China

• Richard points to the first in a series by the New York Times on the huge gap between China's urban (relatively) rich and rural poor. Richard highlights one particularly unfortunate but not uncommon story.

• Wayne reports on a rock concert in China that is about far more than music. He also looks at differences between China and the US's world views and tests sensitivities in Taiwan on the potential for a cross-straits conflict.

• ESWN says stupidity can be a two-way street in dealings between East and West. He also updates the facts on the case of Zhao Yan, the Chinese woman subjected to beatings by a US Border Guard and has a story about the treatment of Chinese brides in Taiwan. Wayne says there's no shortage of mail order bride services.

• ACB says China has celebrated the end of the US's Operation Summer Pulse 04 with a blast. They've also compiled a summary of China's assessments of various naval powers. Mad Minerva says the Chinese are taking all the fun out of the "guess the reaction" game.

• ALN has a comprehensive summary of Chinese labour related news for July. Stephen also has a post by an Indonesian migrant worker in Hong Kong on what life is like for such people. And via ALN I came to Dan Washburn's Shanghai Diaries and this report on his trip to a village in Jiangxi. Well written and interesting stuff.

• China's war on sex has gone too far, says Fons. He also points to Wang Jianshuo who says the war on these sites is causing collateral damage.

• Chris has a thorough look at two books on Chinese history. I just finished the Cambridge Illustrated History of China myself and can recommend it as a good overview (albeit necessarily brief) of Chinese history and culture. It has a great selection of photographs but a word of warning: it weighs a tonne and is bulky making it very uncomfortable to read while in bed, as several bruises on my arms will attest.

• Andrea got an Instalanche for What's on Xiamen and her weekly column. For example she's got an interesting column on what US$1 will buy you in Xiamen (hint: it's pirate DVDs).

• ACB says CCTV, China's official TV network, has subtly endorsed John Kerry.

• Peking Dork says ESWN took too much at face value on a recent corruption case.

Korea and Japan

• Conrad asks what has South Korea done to deserve such wrath from their cousins in the North? Especially when the North produces such useful products. FY has a more on the defectors and Asia Times covers the route defectors have to take. Jodi points out the difficulties facing the new arrivals in South Korea and the Marmot expands on the same topic.

• In today's South Korea blog blocking update, a letter by Gordon Sellar on the issue (mentioned in the previous Asia by Blog) was published in the Korea Times. Jodi says Japan is now censoring news too.

• Marmot says South Korea has returned serve in the latest round of cyber-tennis.

• Apparently we're losing the arms race with North Korea, via IA.

• Antti has the latest on the Korean serial murder saga.

SE Asia

• Conrad asks why foreigners would bother investing in Indonesia.

• Marc takes the Philippine Government to task over its spin efforts on the testimony of a former hostage of Abu Sayyaf. Jodi says Arroyo has got to stop nannying her citizens and stop shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to Iraq.

• As usual The Swanker is keeping you up-to-date on the latest Indonesian Presidential machinations.

• Jodi guesses that most of SE Asia would vote for John Kerry.

• Some photos of Angkor Wat via I got up.

Miscellany

• Spirit Fingers has what every Hong Konger needs.

• Jodi gives a detailed account of "booking" (with an intro here).

• Roy's trying his hand at redrawing maps.

• Taipei Kid has the best named shop in Taiwan.

• While everybody is going to see I, Robot, Tom says the future is already here.

• Paul has HK's six (yes, only six) deadly sins. Guess which one is missing?