Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature, usually 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.

For tsunami relief information, please see the Tsunami Help blog.

This edition contains earthquake and tsunami links, the new Communists, leaked war plans, unwanted refugees, casinos in strange places, the end of the Boom Boom Room, skimpy models plus plenty more...

The official results are up for the 2004 Asia Blog Awards.

The round-up has four five key areas of focus:

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

Asian Earthquake and Tsunami

Many of the links in this section are to blogs, not posts. Just scroll through each blog as they all have plenty on the Tsunami and the relief efforts.

• Agam's Gecko has plenty of on-the-ground reports on and about the disaster and especially Aceh.
• The Diplomad, by some members of the US Foreign Service, has a critical look at the efforts of the UN compared to others in providing relief.
• Prince Roy, a US diplomat in India, has been dealing first-hand with the aftermath and relief efforts.
• Ran makes it into the newspaper (full article here) - not for his photos, but for his harrowing first-hand experience in the tsunami.
• From Indonesia Jakartass has plenty of links and posts and points to the Indonesia Help blog.
• Fred in Sri Lanka has plenty of photos and reports.
• Macam-macam has several posts focussing especially on Aceh, including background and history, as well as a look at the Australian aid package.
• Friskodude has a plethora of photos from various areas.
• India Uncut has plenty of thoughtful articles on the tsunami and its aftermath.
• Jeff Ooi, amongst other posts, has extensive coverage.

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

• The timing of the next HK blogger meet depends on one woman's hair.
• China's citizens prefer renminbi to dollars.
• Is China's economic growth sustainable? Here's a look at some of the problems. And some thoughts on why India may be a better long term candidate as the world's next big power.
• You've seen the movie, now see photos of a real Shaolin Temple.
• The odds favoured it: China's 1.3 billionth baby was a boy.
• Typepad is unblocked in China.
• China's space industry is looking forward to 2005.
• ACB looks at the latest tensions between China and Japan, this time cyber attacks on the Japanese Yasukuni shrine. Josh looks at the problems many have with this shrine. Also a look at China's use of Japanese history.
• Another big dam project in China, with the usual consequences.
• The flaws and problems in China's petitioning system explained.
• Is Taiwan's democracy a legacy of the Japanese? Some interesting parallels with the current situation in Iraq.
• HK is contemplating a smoking ban in all restaurants and clubs. But one pub that has already banned smoking is in hot water...for banning smoking.
• As China engages in "peaceful rise", so does its paranoia.
• Walter Stimson on China's planned anti-Taiwain succession law.
• The world's "free-est" economy has replaced a crocodile with a crock. Maybe he could dump Che and start wearing this?
• Stop press: store closing.
• Jeremy takes apart a ponderous China Daily article on blogs.
• The Silk Market is no more.
• A look at the Chinese of Aceh, who are being persecuted in the post-tsunami wash-up.
• China's official clampdown on online smut has missed a big target: the state-owned media. NOTE: this link will connect you with many examples of skimply clad models and stars.
• Frances links to a new blog, In the Footsteps of Joseph Rock, and explains the writing is superb but the genius is in the photography, placing side-by-side Rock's photos with Michael's own equivalents taken 70 years later.
• What is really keeping Chinese farmers' productivity and incomes low?
• David Moser explains why Chinese is so damn hard (via Musings)
• That time of year: various top ten lists from China's internet for 2004.
• Matt, Kirk and John all reflect on cheating amongst students. Derrick expands the cheating picture.
• Why are Korean dramas so hot in China?
• Take a drive down one of China's oldest streets: Corruption Street.
• China's fakes are now making it big in the USA.
• Andrea points to Socialbrain.org, who's mission is the advancement of collective wisdom in Chinese society through the projects it runs and the tools it builds.
• Getting a Chinese green card isn't easy.
• According to Bill Gates, we're all Communists.

Korea and Japan

• Video of the plight of people in North Korea, with some responses by Joshua. Also photographs from the Hermit Kingdom.
• Jodi describes being Korean-American in Korea.
• It almost defies belief, but South Korea no longer wants North Korean refugees.
• It appears North Korea has been linked with al-Qaeda.
• Does North Korea really have nukes?
• Marmot has North Korea's war plans.
• Macau has competition. A Chinese reporter visited a North Korean casino and almost didn't return.
• Kirk points out an article by Andrei Lankov on recent economic changes in North Korea. Mr. Lankov also has articles on the path NK refugees take.
• More wisdom from Grandfather Kwon, this time on money.
• The secret to NK's success: short back and sides.
• Japan is the winner of the great Russian oil pipeline game.
• It's not quite Year of the Cock yet...but that doesn't stop him.

SE and Other Asia

• Malaysia is suffering from outsourcing...to Japan.
• Singapore is getting set to say goodbye to the Boom Boom Room.
• "I didn't come here to think. I came here for you to think, then tell me what to think." - Singapore in a nutshell.

Miscellany

• Andres series profiling Asian bloggers continues: Andea from T-Salon; Marmot from his hole; and Fons of China Herald.
• Jodi looks at Christian evangalism in Asia, and responds to her critics.
• Chinese New Year can be a difficult time for singles. But a solution is at hand...
• Something for Asian history buffs.
• Great moments in real estate marketing.