Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature, posted on Monday and Thursday, providing links to Asian blogs and their views on the news in this fascinating region. Previous editions can be found here.

This edition contains China's emerging blogosphere, the ASEAN-China free trade area, Japanese urban legends, the wisdom of cabbies, being gay in Japan and AIDS in China, subs in India, Korea's Sharon Stone moment plus plenty more...

The 2004 Asia Blog Awards nominations have begun. And the voting has begun in the World Blog Awards, including the Asia section. You can vote once a day and I have been nominated amongst some elite company. So go nominate and vote; then check out the links below...

The round-up has four key areas of focus:

• China, Taiwan & Hong Kong
• Korea & Japan
• South-East & Other Asia
• Miscellany

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

• Nathan discusses the disconnect between the Communists economic and political goals.
• While waiting on the verdicts on the trial of the authors of the banned Chinese Peasants Study, ESWN translates a detailed background look at the authors, the book and the case.
• Glenn points out this article in New Scientist on the China blogging scene by Xiao Qiang of CDN. Andrea has a thorough round-up on the development of China's blogosphere.
• Where else but HK could over 2,000 brand new flats be demolished to make way for more new flats? It's just business as usual.
• With the fuss over Hong Kong's West Kowloon project growing, ESWN looks at an article questioning HK's cultural values and soul.
• China's banks are throwing off the yoke of the CCP.
• Randall looks at the rules of HK's ups and downs.
• Dan Drezner says China's plans for a free-trade area with ASEAN are nothing for the US to worry about. Brad Sester looks at China's lecturing of the US over its weak dollar. He also looks at the management of China's reserves and the "balance of financial terror".
• Intellectual is becoming a bad word again in China.
• An in-depth look at the execution of China's death penalty. China is revising its death penalty law.
• A look at the factors influencing change in Chinese language. China is getting more assertive in pushing Chinese around the world.
• At WoW there are several posts on the state of Chinese soccer. Best line is in this post: Many Chinese people are afraid of criticizing their schools, their companies and the government, but they are free to say anything they want about Chinese football. Therefore, maybe our national soccer team became the best representatives for our stressful people.
• Labour unrest in China has escaped close world scrutiny.
• Via Danwei comes this collection of Chinese propaganda posters.
• China can manage without Japanese aid.
• Google English news was firstly blocked but is unblocked (for now). Fons says the Western media reaction to the blocking of Google is missing the main game. For example news quickly spread of a brawl involving an NPC delegate at an airport, thanks to China's blogosphere.
• Over 160 miners are estimated to have died in a coal mining accident. News spread remarkably swiftly.
• A NYT Times review of House of Flying Daggers was so good China Daily plagarised the whole thing. All sorts of things end up on official sites.
• "Transparency" is becoming a Chinese buzzword. But does it mean anything?
• December 1st was World AIDS Day. Richard looks at China's progress (and lack thereof) in fighting the disease.
• Meet Google's Chinese competition: Gccgle.
• What will China get in return for revaluing its currency?
• Fabian looks at China's special relationship with its Fraternal Four counterparts.
• China's corporate law is headed for reform.
• China's rise economically is similar to America at the start of the 20th Century, with interesting implications.
• In the diplomatic chess game, China is maneuvering in Latin America.
• Cabbies know best.
• Everything used to be bigger and better in Texas. Now it's China.
• Thomas Barnett says China and India are both striving to be the other.

Korea and Japan

• Paul gives us Japan meeting Cheers, his desperate attempt to beat the rumble, and finally gets some help. Now that's suffering for your art.
• North Korea is so popular it has two Governments in exile.
• Former US envoy on NK Jack Pritchard has a written a paper on the nuclear crisis and 6 party talks.
• North Korea's latest export: its people. After reading how they live, who can blame them?
• A Japanese minister discovers how to say sorry (try this first for background).
• Some toys aren't meant to be shared.
• It's been mentioned before, but for the academic that has everything here's Kim Il-sung University.
• China's Korean land grab continues apace.
• No wonder everyone's scared of KJI.
• There's a bridge between the two Koreas: Mongolia.
• Some Japanese urban legends.
• When North Koreans aren't starving to death they like to take in a movie or two.
• Andy has a first hand account of a seminar on NK Human Rights.
• Caveat Emptor (NSFW).
• Sean on being gay in Japan.

SE and Other Asia

• Malaysia's Internal Sceurity Ministry is banning Western publications for "unsuitable sexual content". I suppose that's pretty internal.
• Unlike the Japan-China submarine fuss, India deliberately downplayed a Chinese naval incursion.
• Jodi says Arroyo has to go.
• What are the implications for India of the China-ASEAN free trade plan.
• A look at all the news from the ASEAN summit, including Australia's interaction with the group.
• Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew has moderated his opposition to a casino, but hopes Singaporeans aren't mugs. Yet no doubt his Government is hoping they are mugs so they can fill the coffers and ease the deficit.

Miscellany

• Have a look at the Asian pieces the celebs are getting this Christmas.
• Now this is a scandal.
• Happy 50th, Godzilla.
• Over-exposure, Korean style.
• You need never be lonely again.