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

This edition contains collusive corporations, fake tsunamis, phoenix Shinto shrines, North Koreas denied entry to the US, a spat over Team America, Nepal's coup, Singaporeans speaking out, married gay Commies, Chinese bullfighting plus much more...

The round-up has four key areas of focus:

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

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous Year of the Rooster.

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

• It's a Cyberport Collusion corrabaree. Tom points out James Tien's hypocrisy...again.
• They can't be serious. "Why are Chinese disinclined to show wealth". Bentley and Louis Vuitton would disagree.
• They're already queuing for HK Disneyland, 6 months early.
• ESWN is annoyed by the British Foreign Office's press release on HK democracy. Tom takes issue with the post.
• China's executives are quickly learning about Western style pay.
• Some journalists you should know: Abdulghani Memetemin; Zhu Yufu; Zhang Honghai.
• Is a crackdown on supersitions coming?
• Take a few hundred students, lock them in a dark room and pretend they're in a tsunami. It's education Hong Kong style.
• China's 24.
• ESWN isn't impressed by Alex Ho's press conference.
• How to complain in Shanghai.
• The fuss over Chinese made Canadian lapels.
• Taiwan's major arms deal is stalled.

Korea and Japan

• Japan's most important Shinto shrine is about to be dismantled, again.
• A major diplomatic spat between North Korea and the Czech Republic over "Team America". The Czechs have said it's an unrealistic wish. Man, I really need to see that movie. Meanwhile they're cranking up the thermostat ahead of the Japan vs. NK World Cup soccer match. I wonder if anyone will be there to watch?
• North Korean defectors were caught trying to get into the USA.
• South Korea's hoju system has been declared unconsitutional.
• Not quite taking it on the chin, more like the calves...
• The privitisation of Japan Post is inching forwards.

SE and Other Asia

• How close are the links between Pakistan's military establishment and "rogue" nuclear arms dealer Khan.
• Thailand's Thaskin had a thumping election win - plenty of links and coverage.
• Vietnam and China are hashing out a territorial dispute via a web forum (via CDN)
• A student stands up to Singapore's PAP and the Straits Times toes the line. And Wannabe Lawyer has an excellent piece on freedom of speech after the fuss over Steve McDermott's site and more thoughts on the original comments over whether Lee Kuan Yew is a despot. More also from Agagooga and Mr Brown.
• Nepal's royal coup, led by King Gyanendra, has an admirer.
• A couple of gay Communists got married in the Philippines.
• Matthew's take on religion in Vietnam.
• No kissing in Indonesia please.
• An amazing group blog documenting volunteers help(ing) women in war-torn countries grow sustainable businesses. (via Jakartass)

Miscellany

• Everything you need to know about Japanese fish sausage.
• For those with some free time, you can go to Shanghai and check out Chinese bullfighting over the CNY holiday.
• Orz and nice guys.
• Move over Segway, it's the Sweeper.