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

**Notes:
1. The new Daily Linklets posts will also contain links to interesting China, Asia and other news and views.

2. Today I've put the entire post on the main page, rather than pushing the body into the extended entry. Any feedback on preferred formats or any other feedback or comments (such as what style of links/stories/information you find most useful or interesting) is greatly appreciated. /Note**

This edition contains China's anti-secession law, South Korea/Japan tensions, gays and AIDS in Singapore, the Dictator and the SecState, re-emerging China, pandas making a comeback, the Dalai Lama and Tibet, the realities of China's net censorship, the South Indian Diet plus much more...

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

• Two in-depth looks at Taiwan's reaction to China's anti-seccession law. Also a look at the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Update: The prolific Publius Pundit has thorough coverage of the law and Taiwan's response.
• WaPo's managing editor Philip Bennett's interview with People's Daily gets worked over again. Jeremy points out that no one actually reads the People's Daily. Update: Hugh Hewitt says Bennett believes the interview in inaccurate (via IP).
• Chalmers Johnson on how to come to terms with re-emerging China (via ESWN).
• New Chief Executive by day, world class cellist by night?
• Someone else agrees with me: China's anti-secession law will not lead to war with Taiwan.
• Premier Wen Jiabao says expect the unexpected on the yuan.
• China's net nanny claims a great blogger.
• The tipping ponit for China's evnironment?
• Sex education (and Shanghai's sex museum) and the fraught issue of history and its teaching in China.
• Pandas are back from the brink.
• The BBC's China week didn't get past China's censors. Indeed it seems their audience was not independent as first claimed.
• Police in Guangxi have found a way to save on paying rewards.
• The Dalai Lama accepts Tibet is part of China. Matt wonders if the timing is a co-incidence. Agam's Gecko has lots more on this and other Asian events.
• Benjamin Walker discusses misconceptions and realities in China's net censorship (via Andrea).
• The mathematics of racism in China.
• In the leadup to 2008 Olympics, China is learning to deal with the demands of foreign tourists.
• Daryl's language series continues: now it is English words borrowed from Cantonese.

Korea and Japan

• South Korea and Japan are clashing over the Tokto/Takeshima Islands. Japundit is all over the issue from the Japanese side with both followup and H.L. Mencken, while Marmot does the same from the Korean side. Andy says the Koreans have a better claim but isn't surprised by the Japanese actions. Even the CIA is taking sides. Instead of oil, some think it is about fishing rights. The North Koreans think Japan will use this as an excuse to invade! Related is a look at Korean anger towards Japan. So much for Korea-Japan friendship year.
• Is North Korea losing the culture war? GI Korea isn't sure the mobile phone will bring down the regime but exposure to South Korean prosperity might.
• Japan will deport Bobby Fischer to America.
• The only fat man in North Korea.
• Prediction time: Kim Jong Il to seduce Condi Rice.
• An interview with Dr. Andrei Lankov. The good doctor discusses the postponement of North Korea's parliament. Who knew they even bothered at all?
• An Australian professor defends Japanese racism.
• It's received little coverage, but it is now official: Pakistan bought missile blueprints from North Korea.
• NYT reporter Howard French visits the North Korea/China border.
• South Korea's President is preparing for his next job: as a chauffeur.

SE and Other Asia

• Riots in a Philippine prison involved Abu Sayyaf members. Belmont Club has a detailed accont of the assault, a discussion on the incompetence of the Philippine Government and its leadership. Macam-macam says a good terrorist is a dead one. He also looks at the latest Filipino hostage in Iraq.
• Rajan on Malaysia, Indonesia and their current clashes over illegal immigrants and oil. LHM also looks at Malaysia's illegal immigrant crackdown.
• Pirates are back in the Straits of Malacca. They took the captain and chief engineer hostage.
• The death of schoolchildren in the Philippines was not due to natural cyanide in the cassava they ate: it was pesticide. Doc Emer explains cassava poisoning.
• The Times of India shuts down a blogger. Online Journalism Review has more on this (via IP).
• For Myanmar neither sanctions nor engagement have worked. Even local opposition leaders are against sanctions.
• Australia's proposed aid package for post-tsunami Indonesia. Inevitably the first tsunami movie is already on the way.
• The contoversy over a Singapore minister's comments and the reporting of them in the Straits Times on gays and AIDS. A related look at the hypocrisy over family values. Adri naturally has plenty to say on this, including the taboo topics of AIDS and being gay in Singapore. Mr Brown adds a dash of ridicule to the claims and Mr Miyagi wonders if its a ploy by the Straits Times. Caleb, IZ and Lancerlord all also have takes.
• A Bollywood sex scandal.
• Blogs mentioned in Singapore's parliament
• Plenty of good coverage of the Oxford Singapore Forum over at Singapore Ink.

Miscellany

• Andres has the next in his interview series, this time with Hong Kong blogger Glutter. Caleb interviews Adri of Popagandhi.
• Sorry can be the hardest word.
• Good advice from kids.
• There's respect for the aged and there's respect for the dead.
• Here's a diet I can live with: the South Indian Diet (via Mr Brown).
• Can kimchi cure bird flu? Does North Korea have it?
• Photos from world parliaments...check out the last photo from Japan.
• Even I don't dress this badly.
• If you're going to hold something up, don't make it a police station.