This has been cross-posted at Winds of Change.

This is a digest of highlights from the Asia by Blog series. Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature providing links to Asian blogs and their views on the news in this fascinating region.

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

Politics

• ESWN is annoyed by the British Foreign Office's press release on HK democracy. Tom takes issue with the post.
• Taiwan's major arms deal is stalled.
• Did China's Vice President really criticise Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Che-hwa? It comes to but a single but.
• Reformer and ex-Premier Zhao Ziyang died. Dan Drezner looks at how much China has changed since Tiananmen. ESWN looked at how the death was covered by China's media. His funeral caused the CCP all sorts of headaches. At first they refused refused a state funeral and recognition. The authorities roughed up mourners. But finally they changed their minds. Reports said it was a low-key funeral. The official obit balanced his contributions with In the political turbulence which took place in the late spring and early summer of 1989, Comrade Zhao committed serious mistakes. Bill notes the importance of the word turbulence rather than turmoil in the Chinese version.
• The first direct flights between Taiwan and China in 55 years touched down this week. Except they had to go via HK airspace...not the most direct route.
• Has the World Economic Forum been used to broker a Sino-European arms deal?
• China's space ambitions: Glenn Reynolds believes a space race between China and America is a good thing. Mark Whittington also talks about the coming space race. But I'm with Rand Simberg: China's efforts in space a demonstration of Government waste and mispalced priorities.
• China is building military bases and listening posts in Pakistan to keep an eye on key (oil) shipping lanes and project its reach in the region. Elsewhere China's balancing act in Africa.

Economy and Lifestyle

• China's executives are quickly learning about Western style pay.
• Collusion in Hong Kong is getting so bad even tycoons are complaining. Tom looks at the difference between co-operation and collusion between business and HK's Government. Then there was the Cyberport Collusion corrabaree. Tom points out James Tien's hypocrisy...again. In China they are so proud of collusion they tell the FT about it.
• Is China bankrolling Russia's renationalisation of Yukos? And was this just a step in a broader battle between India and China?
• China files less than 1% of the patents in the US and Europe. Not a surprise - China's advatnage (at the moment) is its ability to marry cheap labour with capital rather than to innovate. But in 20 years or so...
• Are crime and disorder indicating the central government is losing its grip?
• Bill Gates does a Rupert Murdoch on China's leadership and economy. This is the same leadership selling missiles to Iran and which is asserting more Communist control of business.
• Hong Kong: not the world's free-est economy. Even China is installing anti-trust laws while "free" HK has none.
• "As safe as banks" is not a Chinese saying.
• The lessons of SARS were obviously not remembered.
• Will words turn to deeds for the CCP's promises over rural problems.
• There are some arguing the yuan is not undervalued. Brad Setser lists the points and argues why each is wrong.
• How big is Wal-Mart? They buy 1.1% of all Chinese output.
• Roland compares the "prices of life" in various Chinese cities.

History, Sport and Culture

• 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.
• "Freedom" of religion in China.
• Why don't Chinese stand in line?
• The Jews of Shanghai.
• A day in the life of a living god.
• Another billion dollar corruption scandal.
• Are there parallels between Iraq and 1912 China? Does that mean Iraq will be running by Communists in 2035? China is prepared to sponsor elections in Iraq, but not at home.
• First it was the Reds, now it's the Red Ants taking over Hong Kong.
• To get rich might be glorious, but it will also get you kicked off the Olympic team.
• An interview with the late Susan Sontag and her thoughts on a range of issues concerning China and Asia (via ESWN)

Information

• Just as many journalists suspect, newspapers are made of gold. It's journalistic freedom that's really precious. Some journalists you should know: Abdulghani Memetemin; Zhu Yufu; Zhang Honghai.
• China will have 134 million internet users by the end of 2005, although growth in China's internet users has dramatically slowed.
• ESWN demonstrates the gap in reporting between the English and Chinese press in Hong Kong. Also a look at the de facto undermining of official book publishing in China.
• Hong Kong has clamped down on file sharing, arresting a man for using BitTorrent. Amy interviews two Americans involved in BitTorrent for their views.
• China is watching Gmail.
• The students at WOW have been having an ongoing discussion on the case of Zhao Yan, the NY Times researcher arrested by the Beijing SSB. The introduction is a good place to start for background; Lianne Li discusses press freedom in the wake of the case; Charlotte Li takes NYT journalist Kristof to task; Julia Zhu looks at the role of the press and different models of expression and speech; and Christina Liang doesn't think individuals should sacrifice in the face of powerful Government. It's heartening to read the next generation of Chinese journalists confronting these issues.
• Hong Kong doesn't need to bother following China's example in having a state owned press. The Government can get its articles published regardless.

Korea and Japan

• North Korea announce they have nukes. Plenty on it at NK Zone.
• 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.
• A look at the parallels between Japan's kamikaze and today's suicide bombers.
• They cranked up the thermostat ahead of the Japan vs. NK World Cup soccer match, but would be there to watch? Turns out they did - Japan won 2-1.
• The privitisation of Japan Post is inching forwards.
• Japan 1868 has lessons for at least one newly democratic Middle East country.
• Interested in becoming a Japanese citizen? Read this first. Also Joi Ito has a case of a South Korean national being banned from taking a managerial promotion civil service exam in Japan due to her nationality. He's not impressed. Sean looks into the same issue in greater detail.
• Scholars from China, Japan and Korea are working to produce a combined modern East Asian history textbook.
• Even North Korea is cottoning on to this private property idea.
• A new kind of North Korean is breaking into China: banks. But China's clampdown on official gambling is hurting North Korea.
• A guide to drinking in Korea, with a follow-up.
• Anyone for golf in Pyongyang?
• The questionable basis of East Asian nationalisms and Infidel's take on the South Korean variety.

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)
• Nepal's King launched a coup. Nitin says cancelling the South Asia summit was a bad idea. But King Gyanendra has an admirer.
• 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.
• No kissing in Indonesia please.
• An amazing group blog documenting volunteers help(ing) women in war-torn countries grow sustainable businesses. (via Jakartass)
• The blogging of the tsunami (via Jakartass). Collin May has an interesting article on the impact of the Asian tsunami and the changes in international relations.
• Sassy has a roundup of what Filipino bloggers are talking about.
• Intrigue in the top ranks of Myanmar's junta.
• Sepia Mutiny was all over the disgusting Miss Jones "Tsunami Song" controversy, as was Anna.
• Has offshoring hit America's intelligence activities?

Miscellany

• Andres Gentry has been profiling a series of Asian bloggers.
• Everything you need to know about Japanese fish sausage and pencil carving:
• For those with some free time, you can go to Shanghai and check out Chinese bullfighting over the CNY holiday.
• Move over Segway, it's the Sweeper.
• Sanyo's PR people strike back...with a Hello Kitty toaster.
• Chairs that can grow on you.
• Learn to fold a t-shirt, Japanese style. Who knew you there was a way to fold t-shirts? Then learn to draw Manga comics.
• Key differences between Chinese and Korean men.
• Now you know why you hate camera phones.