I'll be travelling to a potentially coup-ridden South East Asian archipelago on Monday. Civil strife permitting posting should resume on Tuesday afternoon.

The weekly summary of my most popular links...

1. Sarong Party Girl. Not surprising given the fuss. Like in days of old, I only read her site for the posts...and she's a damn good writer.

2. Sarong Party Frens. Lesson - having 'Sarong' and 'Party' in your blog name works.

3. Xiaxue. Singapore's top blogger with her top on.

4. Flying Chair. Related to the Kissel case coverage, I suspect.

5. ESWN's Kissel case coverage.

6. Pundita. You can keep following the fascinating China and Bush Doctrine discussion, summarised and linked via Pundita does China. The latest instalment, Clairol joins with the barbarian hordes plotting China's overthrow, has an interesting perspective on the relationship between China's peasantry and government. If you want to understand Bush administration thinking on China and the world, read it.

7. SPG takes her gear off. Once again proving sex sells.

8. The excellent Jamestown Foundation's China Brief.

9. Wife swapping in Guangdong.

10. Beer and women.

I'm starting to detect a pattern here...

The 10 most clicked links from the past week:

1. Dell is facing a PR disaster
2. Pimps and Ho's in China
3. I thought we already knew who Deep Throat was.
4. Examining the China myths.
5. I've always had a thing about women in uniform.
6. Desperate celibate housewives.
7. Daniel Hong: An angry Asian male.
8. ESWN's look at an undercover drug bust.
9. ESWN's look at the Nancy Kissel case.
10. China is copying Japan and America in the copying game.

The Daily Linklets have superceded the previous Asia by Blog roundups. I've decided to turn Asia by Blog into a weekly summary of the most popular links of the previous week. I judge this using mybloglog and taking the 10 top links that you clicked on. It's not perfect but it should provide an interesting summary of what interested most people during the week that was.

This week's top 10:

1. Muninn's report on the Japan survey on China.
2. Spirit Finger's exclusive coverage of Chinese actress Bai Lai's deleted scenes from Star Wars.
3. ESWN on China's virgin prostitutes.
4. Robert Kagan's The Illusion of 'Managing' China.
5. Sean's satellite picture of North Korea than doesn't quite add up.
6. Danwei on Bai Lai (she's popular given she wasn't even in the movie).
7. Public Enemy 1's post asking if China can become rich and powerful without democracy?
8 (=). Danwei on unclothed nonviolent resistance.
8 (=). Danwei on babe socialism (am I detecting a pattern here, people?)
10. Brad Setser on 5 myths about China's currency.

Getting closer to moving day... It's weird to know this is probably the last Sunday night I will be in this town, ever.

China
Actress Bai Ling had to chose: Star Wars or Playboy? She chose the latter.

Maybe she was distraught over proposed American limitations of Chinese underwear. Or American plans to manage China's Peaceful Rise. Or more Chinese censorship.

Have Tibetans given up on independence?

Korea
Andrew Lankov predicts the Sunshine Policy will cause the swift collapse of North Korea. But is Beijing playing along? So much for Casino Connectivity.

The 'Stans
Allegations of a ficticious kidnapping in Pakistani. (The Japanese girl on a leash story doesn't add up, either.)

Newsweek claimed Americans desecrated the Koran at Gitmo. Afghans rioted. Newsweek lied, Muslims died. (OK, technically, Newsweek printed incorrect assertions due to faulty fact checking, but that doesn't rhyme!)

Maybe a marathon will make them happier.

Never ending trouble in Uzbekistan.

In the 1990s, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan tried to kill local dictator/thug Islam Karimov with five suicide car bombings in one day. The fifth was at the same place at the first, as the terrorists figured he would try to comfort the wounded (he did, and almost died). If a day like that doesn't make your local Soviet President-for-Life psycho-tough, nothing will.

South West Asia
Liberals Against Terrorism links to Brooding Persian on Iranian Nukes. And AIPAC's view, too.

Now that Operation Matador is over, what happened on the Iraq-Syria border?

Blast from the Past
From 1990: Map of the former Soviet Union. From ten days ago: America's Buddy Vietnam.

Geek Notes
Software Patents are bad. So is WITI. Remember my idea to fight online poker comment spam? Like it? Goodroi sure doesn't.

Sorry for the short post today. Today and Wednesday are big transition days for me, as I am moving from Iowa for South Dakota (in preperation for moving to Nebraska. Busy!). I'll try to make it worth your while tomorrow. In the meantime...

Abbreviated Asian Geopolitics by Blog

Coming Anarchy notes
Canada opposes Indian democracy, while Communist China supports it At least they don't have mad cow like Japan.

Dawn's Early Light notes:
Aa robot plane killed a terrorist while America ponders selling Patriot Missles to India.

Marmot's Hole notes:
To some peope, saying "intra-Korean Vice-Ministerial talks are on!" is big news. Not me. Also, Hollywood is remaking JSA. I never heard of the first JSA.

Miscellaneous blog notes:
Mark at ZenPundit examines anti-Putin agitators. The self-promoting tdaxp wonders if liberal bias made World Book miss the lessons of Vietnam. The New York Times calls anti-Iraqi terrorists 'losers'.

East Asia
Liberals Against Terrorism alerts us to One China, Two Shores. Josh at OFK publishes an interview with North Korans, including their views on John Bolton. Meanwhile, the Nieman Foundation is not so keen on freedom

Maybe Nieman would be comfortable in Japan, which will rename Green Day “Showa Day,” in honor of Emperor Hirohito. Hirohito is best known around the world for his affection for gardening. Howie Day and the other Green Day are unavailable for comment.

China launches a "people's war" on drugs. Mao invented real People's War: fourth generation warfare of flat ideological networks. Is Beijing actually threatening 4GW terrorist attacks against drug lords? Or just government nonsense?

On the subject of government nonsense: China's official newspaper continues Babe Socialism.

West Asia
Collounsbury notes the rise and fall of pan-Arab satellite television and prospects for Arab cable TV.

Omar has Iraqi power plant blogging.

Central Asia
Violence In Uzbekistan. As in dozens of gunmen seizing prisons violence. The insurgents are demanding fair trials and economic liberties. An end to political repression might be a good idea too.

Registan is following the breaking news.

Are Afghans rioting over abuse of the Korean idolaters?

Hero
Updates on a Japanese Soldier, being held hostage in Iraq

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.

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

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

• China has been cracking down on usage of university BBS sites and on reporting and journalists. Rebecca MacKinnon interviews Shanghai blogger Isaac Mao on the crackdown while ESWN wonders if China needs a net nanny?
• Thomas Friedman on China...and gets it completely wrong.
• The shennanigens over Hong Kong's next Chief Executive are causing all sorts of confusion. Beijing has managed to get Hong Kong to ask for a re-interpretation of its perfectly clear Basic Law.
• The Chairman says: RTFM.
• Mad dogs and Chinamen.
• The China hype disease hits the IT world.
• Richard's back and sharing Princess Lea's thoughts on China. He's got some great photos and posts from his trip.
• Coals to Newcastle, rice to China.
• The disreputable Lester Brown is rehabilitated by China.
• China's 50 most beautiful people.
• Further hints of changes in China's exchange rate regime.
• The doctor who exposed the SARS cover-up has been released from house arrest.
• Why you cannot trust your TV news.
• Looks like Condi had fun in China.
• Taiwan's adult DVD industry is coming under pressure. Taiwan produces 80% of all adult CDs and DVDs, so this is a major economic step.
• Billmon parallels two Cultural Revolutions. Thankfully only one cost 30 million lives. Update: Jonathan Dresner at Cliopatria eloquently rips into Billmon's facile comparison. What's wrong with all these people?
• China is now suffering its Sudan food dye scare. But is it worth being scared?
• Andrew McManama-Smith takes issue with Chalmers Johnson's Coming to terms with China article.
• More on China's anti-secession law. A reaction to a comparison between the China/Taiwan situation and the American Civil War lead to Bingfeng's response. Interesting debate.
• Noted dissident Rebiya Kadeer was released by China.
• The China/Rhode Island connection.
• A look at the military capabilities on either side of the Taiwan Strait. Bill Roggio looks at the potential for a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
• Is Taiwan a country?

Korea and Japan

• Did America mislead its allies over North Korea's sale of nukes to Libya?
• China is pressuring NK to return to nuclear talks.
• Dodgy Japanese PIs.
• Fukouoka in Japan suffered a massive earthquake. Japan's Government has compiled a handy map of earthquake risk.
• A scam that works in Tokyo but not New York.
• Japundit reviews the new book Race War: White Supremacy and the Japanese Attack on the British Empire.
• Talking about sex in Korea. While we're at it, what about spouse-swapping.
• Mutli-nationals invade Japan...in 1643. More recently, Christian missionaries in North Korea.
• Debate over Japan's missile defense ability versus its constitution. Joe Jones clarifies the issue: Japan can shoot missiles aimed at Japan, but not at its allies.
• Japanese name trivia.
• It was the tenth anniversay of the sarin gas attack in Tokyo's subway. Todd Crowell also looks at the attack and its aftermath.
• A Japanese sub has been found off Hawaii.
• Bobby Fischer is saying sayionara to Japan and heading for Icelandand some are happy to see him go...also read about a beautiful brown mind.
• The moonlighting career of North Korean diplomats may soon be at an end.

SE and Other Asia

• There's virgin markets, and there's virgin markets.
• Xiaxue makes it big and sets off a meme.
• Cambodia tries to save its past.
• A Singaporean judged has blocked an AIDS awareness concert on the grounds it will promote a gay lifestyle, which is "against the public interest".
• America and Burma. It's tricky times for ASEAN too with Mynamar due to take over the chairmanship.
• India and Indonesia are getting closer.
• If you're a Singaporean taxpayer: Ha-ha.
• Rumours of a joint Singapore-Taiwan military exercise are just that.
• How the Straits Times Interactive paid model is shooting itself in the foot. Are you listening SCMP?

Miscellany

• Jodi on the fine line between nationalism and racism.
• If your going to buy a scream machine, make sure it screams in the right language.
• Chewing your way to bigger breasts...I assume for women only.
• It used to be to cut one's nose off in spite of your face. Tragically now it's all about eyes and corneas.

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.

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.

**Notes:
1. The new Daily Linklets posts will also contain links to interesting China, Asia and other news and views. Some of the below links come from the Daily Linklets series.

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 America's rising standing in Indonesia, the LA Times as North Korea's newest mouthpiece, Hong Kong's change of leadership, loggerheads between Malaysia and Indonesia, anti lip-syncing laws, North Korea versus Boing Boing 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

• China's economic numbers don't add up.
• Hong Kong's Chief Executive is to retire (plenty of other links and coverage from there). China is using the occassion to indulge their love of gambling.
• Mozilla is coming to China.
• Howard French describes the battle between China's net censors and netizens.
• GM for HK.
• A collection of Chinese art propaganda.
• A NPC deputy wants to "draft a culture law with Chinese socialist characteristics, to out-law lip-syncing." China would never go in for mouthpieces shouting lines off a pre-recorded track...unless they are politicians. More quirky lawmaking.
• China is enacting its anti-succession law. The best comment on the law goes to Johnny Lau Yui-sui of Hong Kong: "In the case of wars, laws are just 'wrappings'. Laws are usually put aside and it's the political situations that decide [whether to resort to force]."
• China's intentions on the floating of the yuan are becoming clearer.
• Join a debate on US-China relations.
• A review of China Inc. by Ted Fishman (book available at Amazon).
• You can't stop progress. The 2,000 year old farm tax is coming to an end.
• The fight over China's piracy problem now extends to the heart of iPods. The NYT covers the same ground on patents in China.
• Don't breakup over the internet.
• Morning Sun: a slick website backing the film on the Cultural Revolution.
• In China, PR companies pay journalists to come to press conferences (via Danwei).
• Learn about business from the PLA, one of China's largest businesses armies.
• What a way to deal with China's aging population: get them selling pirated p0rn DVDs.

Korea and Japan

• The LA Times ran a much lambasted story on North Korea. Leading the charge was Hugh Hewitt who emailed the reporter, with Powerline, Vodkapundit, Winds of Change, Captain's Quarters and others all adding to the mix. Marmot contrasts the media messages of North Korea, L'Ombre de l'Oliver wonders why the LA Times is running unedited North Korean propaganda, while Tim Worstall relates a personal story demonstrating North Korea's fragile economy. But there's an alternative view that is supportive of the article.
• A South Korean professor praises Japan's imperial rule of Korea, and is forced to resign. So much for independent thought and tenure.
• Are we heading towards a China/North Korea split?
• The North Koreans might be able to take on China, Japan, South Korea and the USA, but they can't mess about with Boing Boing.
• Japan has reached agreement with Germany, India and Brazil on pushing for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
• Japan is cutting its development aid to China.
• Some South and North Koreans are trying to reunify the Koreas on their own.
• Plumb blossom season in Japan.
• Don't come between a Japnese woman and her Louis Vuitton handbag.

SE and Other Asia

• Indonesia and Malaysia are clashing over an offshore border claim. Of course it involves oil. The militaries on both sides are getting involved and suddenly their are tensions between these two neighbours. At the same time Malaysian is cracking down on (predominately Indonesian and including refugees) illegal immigrants while Indonesia drags it heels in response.
• Singapore Ink weighs in the Singapore casino argument and fisks the ST at the same time.
• US Navy reforms helped in the tsunami relief effort and the favourable impact of the US efforts in bolstering its image in Indonesia. Arthur Chrenkoff has more on the improved standing of America in Indonesia, as does OTB, Macam-Macam and Peaktalk. Alturism pays.
• The US State Department Human Rights Report hightlighted plenty of abuses in SE Asia, especially Myanmar.

Miscellany

• Some self-help titles for China.
• For the man who has everything...
• To celebrate International Women's Day, a look at how unhappy Asian women are with their looks. When is International Men's Day?
• Some pictures defy any understanding, cultural barriers or not.

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 Hong Kong's changing of the guard, China's internet crackdown, bird flu, Koera's independence day, North Korean nukes, Malacca Straits pirates, Japan in space 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

• Tung Che-hwa, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, is going to resign. Both links have plenty of further links with views and analysis.
• China's NPC (parliament is overstating things) is meeting, which means it is internet crackdown season, although there was a partial unblocking of the BBC site. They may want to rethink the gambling crackdown.
• An official report on China's ethnic minorities exposes just how disadvantaged many of these groups are. Chez Nadezhda looks at the Uyghurs of Xinjiang.
• China doesn't want details an economic study released because it shows China would gain from eliminating its own agricultural trade barriers.
• The case of the Zhengzhou Four.
• What role are intellectuals playing in China's growing anti-Japan sentiments?
• Sticky rice helped build the Great Wall of China.
• Deposit insurance for China's banks will be unveiled in April 2005.
• Taiwan's media: check on authority or embodiment of chaos?
• The December WTO meeting in Hong Kong will bring the usual gang of trouble makers together, all under the simple slogan of "no care, no responsibility." Meanwhile Hong Kong played host to the USS Kitty Hawk.
• A Chinese think-tank suggests broadening the yuan's trading band.
• Why is China growing so slowly? Does China's economy lag the United States by 100 years?
• Although it's an older post, ALN's post of workers rioting in Dongguan for longer hours is getting more notice.
• Most Chinese respect America.
• The China Blog List has been upgraded.
• Is China contemplating a flat income tax?
• A new site offering English translations of Chinese newspapers.
• Howard French wonders whether China's war with Vietnam was pointless?
• Running Dog laughs in the face of bird flu.
• Joel hopes Lebanon's 2-28 moment has better results than Taiwan's 2-28 incident.
• China apparently offered a "North Korea for Taiwan" formula to resolve both problems. The NPC is due to pass the anti-succession law, but does it help or hinder matters?
• Thomas Barnett again says America's approach to China is wrong.

Korea and Japan

• March 1st was Korean Indepedence Day. Marmot searches for an English translation of the Proclamation of Independence. It was also an excuse for some political point scoring at Japan's expense.
• A great animated mapped history of Korea in the first millenium AD.
• Ari Sharp travelled through North Korea recently and has made plenty of observations. Danwei has an interview with Nicholas Bonner, who organises tours to North Korea.
• If you're going to mistakenly fire a bullet, don't do it at the DMZ.
• The North Korean abductions of South Koreans. The US State Department's Human Rights Practices in North Korea give a consise summary of everything wrong with the Hermit Kingdom.
• You have the right to remain silent in 8 different languages.
• Japan is finally putting some teeth into its North Korea policy. And South Korea's President Roh is angry with the Norks too.
• Some major but quiet changes in Japan's criminal law.
• Creeping capitalism in the DPRK: advertisements in newspapers. Could it be a further sign of changes in the North Korean leadership?
• One person wasn't surprised by North Korea's nuclear declaration.
• Japnese women then and now. Spot the differences.
• Japan successfully launched a rocket and is planning a manned moon base. Tourists were getting sick of the same old Earth based spots.

SE and Other Asia

• Setting aside the religious angle, here is a collection of photo essays on the Tsunami.
• Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi was questioned by the police over comments made on his blog.
• Indonesian Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir has gotten off lightly.
• Mixing religion and sex in the Philippines is a recipie for ignorance.
• The threat of terror attacks in the Malacca Straits and the implications. Terrorists are recruiting pirates.
• Malaysia's clampdown on illegal workers has begun.
• The bind of Asian central bankers.
• More fall-out over the Singapore Times paid online content. Singapore Ink wonders how blogs will be affected by the change and if they can fill the gap. The Police State takes a broader look at the Straits Times and has suggestions on coping with the change. Singapore Angle also contemplates the effects on bloggers and if blogs could rival MSM.
• Do Singaporeans suffer from a colonial mentality? The same question could be asked of Hong Kong.
• While defamation suits work for Singapore's PAP, they don't for the opposition.

Miscellany

• Geriatric Confucian hip-hop. More seriously Jodi wonders if Confucianism is compatible with modern Asia.
• Everything you wanted to know about Pachinko.
• There are better alternatives than cutting it off.
• It's going to be even harder to tell which models are real or fake.

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 a funny Singaporean morning show, repopulating Hong Kong, reverse offshoring, non-performing pandas, China's censorship, North Korean flip-floppery, Maoists reviewing video games 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

• Hong Kong: one country, two systems, three children.
• An American leather firm competing with low cost Chinese producers (full article here). For all the worries of China's low cost advantage, there are other ways to compete besides price. Dan Drezner looks at a related issue: offshoring....or should that be homeshoring?
• A translated article from within China on avoiding the Great Firewall, which was blocked in Beijing but not in Shanghai or Xinjiang. John suspects blocking efforts are being stepped up. Fons says a lot of problems are blamed on "blocking" when they are unrelated. China's censorship policies are complicated and, in part, only symbolic.
• Graphic photos of a Chinese execution.
• The dilemmas facing China's middle class. An example of just how far and how quickly living standards have risen.
• Taiwan's President has agreed to not seek independence in return for domestic political support.
• "If tropical timber were people, China would be raping Nanking once a month."
• The China journalism cliche machine gets a workover.
• A photoblog of Beijing, via Danwei.
• Is China heading for an inevitable clash unless it broadens its thinking? Running Dog says China has its diplomatic sights set on the Japan-Taiwan relationship. Thomas Barnett notes America cannot control how China integrates with others such as Europe, India and Brazil.
• Another Chinese first: diamond cutting.
• Yesterday was the Lantern Festival, aka Chinese Valentines day. Quizas gives a first hand account.
• Is the overseas English teachnig gravy train coming to a halt? A glut of Westerners...talk about reverse offshoring.
• I'm not quite sure how they are going to achieve it, but a group in Shanghai is aiming to build houses for 30% below the market rate.

Korea and Japan

• Andy reports on a lecture by Dr. Andrei Lankov on the background to the Korean Workers Party and the attempted overthrow of Kim Il-sung in 1956. Fascinating must read material.
• The North Koreas changed their mind and said they "might" return to talks. Amongst other demands, North Korea has demanded the Japanese stop making "serious problems" over the abduction issue. There wouldn't be any problem if they handed over the right ashes and admitted what had happened. Thomas Barnett thinks a great chance is being missed to offer a Grand Bargain: concessions to China in return for North Korea. Alternatively some argue give the South Koreans nukes too. That's M.A.D.
• The South Koreans don't think the Norks have nukes.
• Repeating the Berlin Wall fall of 1989 is irresponsible and a poor example to follow for the PRC-North Korea border. Marmot looks at the "peaceful, moral and multilateral" alternative.
• Japanese education isn't doing such a great job.
• It's not just China and Japan fighting over tiny islands. It's also South Korea and Japan.
• The Economist's summary of recent East Asian events. Budaechigae has a copy of Thomas Barnett's letter of advice to George W for East Asia.
  * Inequality within South Korea.
• Japan's constitutional reform inches forward.
• Kurdish refugees aren't doing so well in Japan.
• Forget Hunter S. Thomson. Lee Eun-ju, a 24 year-old Korean actress, committed suicide. Some suspect a movie role drove her to it.
• Some people shouldn't make jokes, like central bankers.
• OhmyNews turned 5.
• The UN and North Korean refugees.

SE and Other Asia

• An interview with newly released Vietnamese Buddhust monk Thich Thien Mink (via Dean).
• Another blog from Nepal. What are India's intentions as its army applies the squueze on their Nepalese counterparts.
• Muslim terrorists in SE Asia and their goals, with additional comment from Huichieh. Also America's efforts at counter-terrorism in SE Asia and the domestic political sensitivities they face.
• Mr Brown looks for alternatives now the Straits Times online has become fee-based. It's a surprisingly popular move...it's one less Government sponsored source. It reflects Singapore's "free" media.
• A morning show from Singapore with a twist. A small taste:

  Richard Lui: Welcome everyone to a brand new morning show on Channelnewsasia.
  Suzanne Jung: That’s right Richard. After months of contemplating and then revamping, we are proud to launch this new morning program aptly named “Wake Up your Fucking Ideas Singapore”. A name that’s sure to ring some resonance among our viewers.
  Richard: In this revamped morning show, we’ll be discussing all the hot and controversial issues gripping the nation. We’ll also be inviting viewers to call in and share their views.
  Suzanne: Talking about hot and controversial issue, the announcement by the government to consider setting up a casino is already polarizing the country into 2 distinct camps, each with their own arguments and views to be heard.
  Richard: Yes, it is indeed refreshing to see a fierce debate happening right here in sterile Singapore. So what’s your own opinion on this issue Suzanne?
  Suzanne: Who cares. I’m a Korean.
  Both laugh heartily.

• Snail fever's return was easily preventable.
• Thomas Barnett says there is no point in choosing between India and China...it's India and China.
• Java Jive is a great photoblog from, well, Java.
• Some Vietnam mythbusters.
• In Singapore, Redrown asks what cost economic success?
• Afghan stand-up comics.

Miscellany

• Meet Gish Jen, the American-born daughter of Chinese immigrants who converted to Judaism.
• Hong Kong and Japan are not the same thing.
• It ain't easy being a panda.
• Maoists review video games.
• Now that's a rice cake.

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 Singaporean conscription, the North Korea nuclear talks, China and the Japan/America alliance, China's developing economy, Sadaam in Shanghai, blogging from Nepal, Japanders 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

• Is Hepatitis rather than selective abortion responsible for the growing gender imbalance in China?
• Is China America's strategic competitor, it's banker, or both?
• Hong Kongers are learning a new greeting for tourists. Then they can go see the hottest show in town.
• Chinese literature has a rich body of work. ESWN digs up a gay novel..from the 1650s.
• Even if you get the right numbers you may not win the lottery.
• China can expect to be a fully developed economy...by 2080.
• Are China's peasants about to revolt?
• Sadaam is found on a slipper in Shanghai...the start of a new brand?
• Foreign Policy had 7 China experts talk about China's rising (via CDN).
• Can Tung Che-hwa rid Hong Kong of the invaders?
• Henry Blodget asked for China business stories. He got a great one from Perry Wu (via Fons).
• In Sino-American relations, misunderstandings and mistrust are now the norm, but the two have more in common than they realise. The question remains how China will interpret the various messages coming out of the White House, State and the Pentagon. Plenty more on this theme in the Korea section.

Korea and Japan

• China is trying to get NK back to talking over the nuclear issue even though NK isn't interested unless unnamed conditions are met. Thomas Barnett thinks America is missing a chance to make a deal with China out of all this, although I'm not convinced China has as much leverage over NK as many think, a point Howard French echoes in looking at China's pessimism and worries over North Korea. Infidel has an in depth look at the Barnett article. Oranckay says China is the problem when it comes to NK and GI Korea adds his thoughts. Sean has the reaction in Japan. In the Agora has a roundup of political developments across East Asia including all of this.
• The US and Japan are upgrading their security pact and and co-ordinating on Taiwan as well as North Korea.
• South Korea's Uri Party signs an agreement with the CCP.
• There's strong support in Japan for the death penalty. On the other hand suicides are reaching record highs too.
• Japan's growing Korea craze.
• Women during Meiji Restoration.
• The NK casino closed due to a Chinese gambling crackdown is going to become a tourism centre instead.

SE and Other Asia

• Al-Qaeda took 2 Indonesians hostage (they were later released) to "clarify" why they are in the country. Isn't it just easier to ask?
• A massage-palour king is starting his second career: as a politician. Is there a difference?
• Lots of interesting stuff from Radio Free Nepal blog. Look how Democracy Day was "celebrated".
• The Swanker looks at the latest in the tsunami relief efforts.
• Singaporean bloggers have been debating conscription. Redrown has a five part series: The 3 Mentalities; Social Anomalies; Pointing Fingers; False Security; Is Attack the best form of Defence? In response a detailed critique from Singapore Angle comes in 3 parts: critique on parts 1-3; critique on part 4; critique on part 5. A more detailed overall critique is here with final thoughts on the conversation. The Singapore Commentator lives up to the blog name and also posts comments on the issue. Next is the counter response to the critique from the original author. The posts and responses lay out many issues around conscription. Fascinating reading and all the better for the debate of ideas rather than descending into ad hominem attacks.

Miscellany

• Japanders galore. See Mariah Carey, Sean Connery and California's Governor hocking products in Japan.
• There are some places chili oil is not meant to go.
• Honesty in advertising.

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 a new blog from restricted Nepal, the aftermath of NK's nuke announcement, the Chinese Last Supper, the EU arms embargo on China, a Hello Kitty stress meter, the new Communi$t Party 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

• Welcome to the new Communi$t Party.
• Chinese industrial espionage in the USA. And the CIA report on China's rise, which Richard sees as baiting and pandering to the right. Others say the statement was a mistake.
• Some background and history on author Eileen Chang by the son of her agent and friend.
• The last supper with Chinese characteristics.
• Forget Superbowl ads. Now American beer companies are bringing you Chinese propaganda.
• China's gone to the dogs.
• China's demand for tissue and toilet paper is causing shortages.
• A critique of a study of educational differences between rural and urban Chinese.
• The French are arguing lifting of the EU arms embargo will stymie China's advanced weapon systems development because they'll be buying it from Europe instead. Winston Marshall has a far more detailed and nuanced look at the issue.
• The city of Guiyang is fighting back against the scourge of female infantcide and selective abortion.
• Is the US$7,000 car on the way?
• China's campaign against porn continues. Meanwhile official media keep pumping out the babes.
• Another massive coal mine disaster.
• A great set of China photos (via CDN).

Korea and Japan

• Japan and Russia are getting cosier in response to the perceived threat from China. Is this the early 1900s all over again? The end of Japan's aid program in China is also coming, not co-incidently there is also a flare-up over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. It's part of racheting up of the tensions between the two countries.
• NK declares they have nukes. But why now (another take is here)? The South Koreans don't believe it and the Chinese aren't impressed. An anonymous NK official tries to rationalise their declaration. Marmot was all over the media punditry and reaction. The attempt to drive a wedge between the other members of the 6 party talks has also backfired, although it is a sign the talks have been a failure. Some say the Bush Administration wanted the 6 party talks to fail, which makes little sense given the effort involved. An insider sees it as a sign of desperation. Jonathan Dresner argues for "pragmatic inconsistency".
• The US is perfecting its North Korean sanctions toolkit. Maybe using capitalism? Those crafty North Koreans have even managed to turn American food aid into a propaganda victory.
• Happy birthday, Mr Kim. Or is that Mini-me?
• Japanese's language problems.
• What do American hardliners and North Korea have in common?
• Is Japan's rising nationalism a threat?
• Japan's love hotel industry boasts a 260% occupancy rate and 500 million couples visit a year. No wonder the economy's in the doldrums - they're all too busy having nooky.
• Some North Korean announcements you might have missed.
• Some details for Westerners on working in Japan.

SE and Other Asia

• Radio Free Nepal - a new blog with this intro:King Gyandendra of Nepal has issued a ban on independent news broadcasts and has threatened to punish newspapers for reports that run counter to the official monarchist line. Given that any person in Nepal publishing reports critical of "the spirit of the royal proclamation" is subject to punishment and/or imprisonment, contributors to this blog will publish their reports from Nepal anonymously. (via Joel, Rconversations and Buzz Machine)
• Monogolia has adopted a second official language: English.
• The Wall St Journal is wrong on Pakistan's President.
• Cowboy Caleb has an amusing interview with Mr. Brown.
• Salman Rushdie - democracy is not a tea party.
• Bali's land politics.

Miscellany

• Japan's chin-dong bands - proof they are the goofiest nation on Earth.
• If she doesn't stress you out, Hello Kitty can check your stress levels.
• Sometimes people need to really think about their logos.
• The successor to the Little evil angel's bra, complete with key.

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.

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.

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 partially trusted lawyers, Korean-Japan football, gold-plated Chinese newspapers, Chinese funded Russian oil, history repeating, the blogging of the tsunami, blogger interviews and a Hello Kitty toaster, 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

• Collusion in Hong Kong is getting so bad even tycoons are complaining. In China they are so proud of collusion they tell the FT about it.
• Calculated at last: how much can you trust lawyers? 20%.
• China will have 134 million internet users by the end of 2005.
• Is China bankrolling Russia's renationalisation of Yukos? And was this just a step in a broader battle between India and China?
• Ranking China's richest cities.
• Intellectuals are dying in China in more ways than one.
• Just as many journalists suspect, newspapers are made of gold. It's journalistic freedom that's really precious.
• While on freedoms, try "freedom" of religion.
• Did China's Vice President really criticise Tung Che-hwa? It comes to but a single but.
• You might be out of China, but you can still get CCTV.
• Are crime and disorder indicating the central government is losing its grip?
• Parallels between the EU's approach to both Cuba and China.
• Take Bill Gates's quotes on China's new capitalism, juxtapose them with waffle from NGOs and what do you have? Not much at all.
• Why don't Chinese stand in line?
• The lessons of SARS were obviously not remembered.
• China's football Super League has lost its main sponsor and all credibility.
• Another billion dollar corruption scandal.

Korea and Japan

• Japan 1868 has lessons for at least one newly democratic Middle East country.
• Will textbook by committee help or hinder the cause of better East Asian relations?
• The South Korean Soccer Research Institute will sponsor the NK soccer team. Who knew there was a soccer research institute? Of course the game is never just about sport.
• American scientists believe NK was the source of Libyan enriched uranium. Plenty more background and links as well. But on second thoughts, the scientists aren't so sure...
• Nomad's "Assclown of 2005" has already been awarded.
• Interested in becoming a Japanese citizen? Read this first.
• A new kind of North Korean is breaking into China: banks.
• The useful idiots who help support North Korea.
• Japan's top internet queries for 2004.
• Sanyo's PR people strike back...with a Hello Kitty toaster.

SE and Other Asia

• The blogging of the tsunami (via Jakartass).
• Today in Singapore: D stands for despot.
• A novel pitch: invest in Pakistan to save it (and yourself) from terrorism.
• Sassy has a roundup of what Filipino bloggers are talking about.
• Nepal's King launched a coup. Nitin says cancelling the South Asia summit was a bad idea.
• Take the train, win a car.
• Both the Sultan of Brunei and John Howard visited Aceh.

Miscellany

• Andres interviews Jodi from the Asia Pages. And the entertaining Mr. Miyagi gets interviewed.
• 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.
• Japanese civilisation hits an all-time high...or low.

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 parallels between modern Iraq and 1912 China, parallels between kamikaze and suicide bombers, the world's not quite free-est economy, Zhao Ziyang's funeral, Korea's troops in Iraq, Bill Gates and Reds, a WEF cover for a Sino-EU arms deal, North Korea falling apart, Gmail being censored, an almost smoke-free Bhutan, Chinese journalism students discussing Zhao Yan and the perfect Valentine gifts, 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

• Are there parallels between Iraq and 1912 China? Does that mean Iraq will be running by Communists in 2035?
• Hong Kong: not the world's free-est economy. Even China is installing anti-trust laws while "free" HK has none.
• 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.
• 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.
• Zhao Ziyang's 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.
• First it was the Reds, now it's the Red Ants taking over Hong Kong.
• The Emperor and his tree.
• The best 70 year old map of Shanghai you'll ever find. Meanwhile Beijing's older sites are falling prey to the bulldozer and modernisation.
• Psychics are no longer allowed to advertise on radio and TV. They'll need to resort to telepathy instead. And in pseudo-science news, Chinese people are apparently better at controlling their emotions than Westerners. Running Dog suspects otherwise, as does Laosan.
• 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.
• A group of HK writers and journalists are working on setting up a platform for HK blogs (via CG).
• 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.
• Has the World Economic Forum been used to broker a Sino-European arms deal?
• Some Hong Kongers are trying to expunge the records of the 1967 rioters. Roland looks at the various issues and crimes involved.
• China is prepared to sponsor elections in Iraq, but not at home. Instead it's democracy with Chinese characteristics.
• An interview with the late Susan Sontag and her thoughts on a range of issues concerning China and Asia (via ESWN)
• China is watching Gmail.
• Making a racket Chinese style.
• How big is Wal-Mart? They buy 1.1% of all Chinese output.
• 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.

Korea and Japan

• A look at the parallels between Japan's kamikaze and today's suicide bombers.
• All soy is not the same.
• A report on Korean troops in Iraq
• Is North Korea falling apart? Much more debate at NK Zone as well.
• What do Sumo champions do once they retire?
• A summary of recent developments in North Korea and inter-Korean relations.
• Taiwan's President Chen has a friend in Japan.
• Scholars from China, Japan and Korea are working to produce a combined modern East Asian history textbook.
• A look at the relationship between Japanese women and Western and Korean men.
• Sanyo has found a way to boost its sales: beg its staff to buy its own products. But if they aren't buying them already, why would anybody else.

SE and Other Asia

• In India, Goa has tourism, Assam has tea and Bihar has kidnapping.
• Intrigue in the top ranks of Myanmar's junta.
• If you're a journalist in the Philippines, check your life insurance.
• Bhutan is smoke free...but you can still hang out at the back of the Royal Palace for a quick one.
• Malaysia's bloggers had a get-together.
• A review of economic blogging on India.
• Details of an upcoming forum in Singapore titled Towards an open and inclusive society

Miscellany

• For the person who has everything, some Japanese (edible) Valentines ideas. Or how about this?
• Do these things really require instructions?
• NSFW: the story and picture of the infamous Hello Kitty "massager".

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.

This edition contains a Korean drinking guide, the controversy over "Tsunami Song", HK's pliant press, Zhao Ziyang's funeral, North Korean's Pakistani purchases and plenty 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

• As the world remembers the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a look at the Jews of Shanghai.
• 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.
• 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.
• Can you spell Xinhua? Start with F-H-M...
• Dan's not impressed by IBM. Maybe Lenovo can do better.
• A day in the life of a living god.
• Credit isn't always a problem at Chinese banks.
• Zhao Ziyang's funeral is causing the CCP all sorts of headaches. At first they refused refused a state funeral and recognition. And the authorities are roughing up mourners. But now it appears they've changed their minds.
• 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...
• Brad Sester looks at the China dollar puzzle. And Fons looks at the booming economy and China's efforts to control it.
• To get rich might be glorious, but it will also get you kicked off the Olympic team.
• China's environmental watchdog is growing teeth.
• China is rethinking the death penalty.
• Using the buddy system to shield yourself in HK.
• Apparently the Chinese hostages (now home) in Iraq suffered a case of mistaken identity.

Korea and Japan

• 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.
• There are reports NK bought a nuke from Pakistan. I've always wondered how that happens. Does someone from NK ring up the Pakistan Government and request a transfer to the "Nuclear Arms for Sale" Department?
• China's clampdown on official gambling is hurting North Korea.
• Japan's largest trading partner is now China.
• Did Japanese PM father a child with a Korean?
• Jodi talks about Koreans adopted and raised abroad who have returned to Korea, including herself.
• The North Koreans have responded to Japanese experts who determined the bones handed over were not those of Megumi Yokota.
• In case you need it, a guide to drinking in Korea, with a follow-up.

SE and Other Asia

• Sepia Mutiny is all over the disgusting Miss Jones "Tsunami Song" controversy, as is Anna.
• Nitin is unimpressed with India's new National Security Advisor.
• Steven McDermott is looking to get a blogger based reportage/link.comment site on Singapore. Some of the likely contributors broke bread.
• Matt has some interesting observations from his Vietnam trip.

Miscellany

• Collin May has an interesting article on the impact of the Asian tsunami and the changes in international relations.
• The history of the Hello Kitty Adult Toy. Then you can try the sushi.
• Play the Korea question game.
• Forget iPods, it's iDogs you need. Don't forget to go vote for Lee as well.

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.

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

• Is China's economy overvalued? Tyler Cowen also points out China's looming pension crisis but misses a vital point: China hasn't really ever had a pension system. That said China's never had so a demographic imbalance between young and old, not to mention between male and female. Perhaps these numbers explain China's high private savings rates.
• Zhao Zhiyang died. Dan Drezner looks at how much China has changed since Tiananmen. ESWN looks at how it has been covered by China's media. The funeral has caused much fuss, with the the authorities and the families still wrangling over the details.
• Hong Kong's Democrats haven't had a good week. Even when they're quiet they do it all wrong. Kelvin also looks at Walkout-gate.
• China's university students can finally marry and have kids.
• It's not scamming, it's betting smart.
• Richard says China has documents to prove Taiwan belongs to it.
• Hong Kong has clamped down on file sharing, arresting a man for using BitTorrent. Amy interviews two Americans involved in BitTorrent for their views.
• Look out, the Colonel is conquering China.
• Roland compares the "prices of life" in various Chinese cities.
• "As safe as banks" is not a Chinese saying. Yet strangely when banking smaller cheques there's far more paperwork.
• Tom looks at the difference between co-operation and collusion between business and HK's Government.
• China's Iraqi hostages were freed and should soon be home.
• The growth in China's internet users has dramatically slowed.
• 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.
• China is the world's growth market for nuclear power. Ellen has thoughts on the matter.
• Just as HK's Disneyland is preparing to open, rumours return of a Shanghai version.
• China is finding new ways to erect barriers to cross-border trade, for example in insurance.
• The Betel Nut business in Taiwan...
• A look at China's balancing act in Africa.
• Another clampdown on gambling by Chinese authorities.

Korea and Japan

• The Japanese have invaded China already...with tourists.
• Seoul has a new Chinese name.
• Anyone for golf in Pyongyang?
• Has China asked the North Koreans to admit to their uranium program?
• There is no dancing on the bus in South Korea.
• You don't need to travel to North Korea to see indoctrinated schoolkids - you can do it in Japan.
• Yhe questionable basis of East Asian nationalisms and Infidel's take on the South Korean variety.
• Even North Korea is cottoning on to this private property idea.
• The privitisation of Japan Post, the world's largest financial institution, is still on the radar.

SE and Other Asia

• For all the news and views on the Indian Ocean countries, check out the WoC review.
• The winners of the Indian Bloggies for 2004 have been announced.
• A look at gun rights in India.
• Amit stumbles across plagiarism in the Indian blogosphere, although no doubt the issue is far wider. Then he discovers the fellow who started the whole incident off is engaged in far more nefarious activities.
• Andres profiles Nathan from The Argus. (The Argus is here).
• Bollywood diva Parveen Babi passed away.
• Has offshoring hit America's intelligence activities?
• Some worrying bird flu developments.
• Is it me or are Singapore's Government Linked Companies suspiciously similar to the large Chinese state-owned companies?
• As if they don't have enough to deal with already, but flooding hit Indonesia. Jakartass reports from his home.
• Blogging in Singapore is getting its first Deathmatch.

Miscellany

• Both SF and Phil are getting hassled on the street and are not impressed.
• Don't annoy your ex, it could cost you your (online) life.
• Japanese pencil carving: it's exactly what it says.
• Jodi looks at some key differences between Chinese and Korean men.
• Now you know why you hate camera phones.

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 first hand reports on the tsunami recovery efforts, exams, tax and tipping in China, Mao's grandkids, train riding Smurfs, bulls in Japan, curbing malaria without DDT 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

• Arthur Chrenkoff's prolific Tsunami Updates series continues with the latest news and links on the recovery efforts.
• Charlatans are getting in on the act.
• A (WARNING: graphic) first hand account of disaster relief on Phuket (via HKMacs): Day 1 and Day 2.
• Burmese workers in Thailand have been doubly hit.
• Agam's Gecko has plenty - just keep scrolling.
• The Diplomad has been "at the coalface" and lists the "good guys" in the relief effort: Part 1 and Part 2.
• The full collection of the excellent Tsunami-related posts by Amit Varma are collected here. Also check this list of lessons learnt.
• Indonesian fears of an East Timor style intervention have lead to a deadline for foreign militaries operating in Aceh. And religion is getting mixed in the mess as well.
• Josh has a first hand report from a memebr of the Korean medical team in Aceh.
• Sean takes a hard look at the long-term rebuilding projects and their ability to quickly transform into boondoggles.

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

• The always interesting ESWN looks at the link between the Asia Blog Awards, John Ashcroft and the aborted LINK REIT.
• Is Zhao Ziyang dead? Officially not. The former protege of Deng Xiapong was outsted after the events of June 1989. Since then he's been under house arrest while the CCP tries to figure out what to do when Zhao dies in order to prevent another repeat.
• You don't need to bother grading exams in China - just wait to be told the correct scores.
• Tung Che-hwa's policy address contained at least one surprise.
• The solution to both HK's traffic and budget woes.
• Meet some of HK's worst exports.
• Jeremy isn't impressed by Francis Fukuyama's essay on China.
• Bingfend isn't impressed by the China Business News.
• It's not easy being a Chinese flight attendant.
• Mr. Tall's daughter navigates the HK Kindergarten admissions system.
• MM links to two posts on Taiwan's democracy and America's position in cross-Straits relations.
• Tax and tipping in China.
• Is China's propaganda machine opening a new front to discredit dissidents?
• Will inflation spell the end of China's cheap labour? (via Fons)
• Meet Mao's and Chiang's grandkids.
• Richard looks at China's proposed anti-secession law.
• More entries in the Xinhua babe club (China Daily too). Maybe they could start a cafe?
• Is China going to eat the Earth out of house and home?
• Koreans learn the meaning of "free speech" in China. And don't hold your breath for an apology either.
• The approach of Chinese New Year also heralds the approach of theft season. Matt, John and Sam all related their stories.
• More on the growing gap between rich and poor in China.
• For the picture buffs, another stunning collection of China photos from 1988 (via SP).

Korea and Japan

• If you're riding South Korean trains, you could be in for a blue surprise.
• Sometimes accidents do happen. And sometimes they don't.
• Should the North Korean leadership be granted amnesties for the greater good? Andrei Lankov's article and Marmot's interesting take.
• Sex, lies and English teachers.
• Clearly Japan needs Matadors.

SE and Other Asia

• A guide to the key institutions, players and future trends in Pakistan.
• It's not always jihadis. Sometimes tax defaulters are the terrorists.
• India's legal system isn't working, so the people revert to alternatives. The post includes this great line: If ‘there are no atheists in foxholes,’ I’d add that there are no pure libertarians in developing nations. (via Sepia Mutiny)
• Singapore's blogging elite had brunch and beer. Fine looking bunch.
• It's good to be an ex-President.
• Visit a Vietnamese wedding.
• Speaking English well in India does not equate to intelligence, and vice versa.
• Or try the Tiger Temple of Thailand.
• How Vietnam curbed malaria without DDT.
• Steve McDermott continues his discussion on education in Singapore (the original post that started it all is here).
• Singapore's media does not get blogging.

Miscellany

• Andres interviews Running Dog as part of his continuing profile series.
• Accupuncture is getting standardised.
• Asiapundit is on the way.

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.

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.

This will be the final edition for 2004. New editions will commence in the first week of January.

This edition contains Taiwan's elections, an unwanted Chinese export, Japan's new defense guidelines, sex and Korean tourism, Chinese page 3 girls, China slipping grip on the net, the regular North Korean histrionics, Indonesian pirates, differences in understanding of culture, Singapore's party poopers, a fake beauty contest, the Global Voices conference plus plenty more...

The 2004 Asia Blog Awards are now in the voting stage. Also check out the IndiBloggies...
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

• Scott Sommers looks at the results of Taiwan's Legislative Yuan election and its meaning. Infidel sees parallels with America's election. MM also wraps it all up, saying there weren't any winners. Survived SARS looks at the interaction between the KMT's attitude to the arms package, Chen's second term ambitions and the likely US response.
• Thomas Barnett looks at America's treatment of emerging China and at Taiwan's re-think on its independence push.
• Cindy Lauper is a danger to Chinese motorists.
• What Beijing wants people to hear.
• IKEA can teach other foreign companies in China a thing or two.
• A Chinese export we could do without.
• Wondering what HK's Chief Exec Tung Che-hwa is up to? Wonder no more.
• 3 Chinese intellectuals were arrested briefly as part of a crackdown on dissent. China's new leadership turns out to be cracking down even harder than the old, contrary to expectations.
• Japan is cutting its aid program to China.
• It doesn't star Jim Carey, but China is banning a new show called The Mask anyway.
• China and Russia are conducting their first joint military exercise next year. Here's what it does and doesn't mean.
• Love and money are changing China's family life.
• Are Page 3 girls coming to China? (NSFW)
• China defends its currency and foreign exchange position.
• Is China losing its grip on the internet and thus information?
• Is Hong Kong changing from a developers' paradise?
• A short example why Cantonese cannot be taught; it must be lived.
• Is Pam too hot for the censor?
• You don't want to be a coal miner in China.
• A computer game threatens China's territorial integrity.
• The end of textile quotas will likely mean China will soon dominate textile trade. But under great pressure China is imposing export duties to limit the initial damage.
• A thoughtful reflection on the meaning and differences in culture.
• Things like this won't help Sino-Japanese understanding. Over 90% of Chinese say they hate Japanese people.
• Another only in China moment.

Korea and Japan

• Joe Jones has a thorough look at Japan's new defense guidelines and winston Marshall looks at the modernisation program for Japan's forces.
• North Korea as the Ireland of Asia, but which Ireland?
• While some countries are worried about police being sensitive to racism, that's not an issue in Korea. You can also find out what life is like for foreigners in Korean prisons.
• Juche never was and is being replaced by....capitalism!
• There are allegations the Bush administration has misrepresented North Korea's nuclear program. Problem is the Norks seem to be talking up their nuclear potential, rather than talking it down.
• NK explains what happened with those portraits.
• Tony fisks a speaker at the North Korean Human Rights Symposium.
• Could sex destroy Korea's tourism trade?
• Some Japanese politicians are openly calling for the overthrow of Kim Jong-il. Here's another reason to agitate for change. Tensions are rising over the "fake bones", where NK sent remains of Japanese abductees that DNA testing showed were not. In the counterclaim to Japanese threats of suspending aid and foreign exchange remittances (a large source of forex for NK), the Norks have opted for threats of war. Maybe the Norks should have thought about that before they sent the wrong bones to Japan?
• A Korean man has the perfect natural combination: the secret to both long life and satisfying women. Check out his comment at Oranckay for why Japanese women are short.
• Bobby Fischer might be leaving Japan for colder climes.
• An interview with some North Korean student defectors.
• You thought I, Robot was just sci-fi...
• English words being mixed into Japanese.
• Jodi looks at the potential inter-(North) Asian wars and brings Russia into the equation. And all that ignores the Pakistan/India tensions.

SE and Other Asia

• The first pirates have been caught in Indonesian waters.
• The world's largest terrorist network is not what you think.
• Nitin thinks America's interest are better served if India isn't distracted by the threat from Pakistan and the Bush administration's planned sale of F-16s to Pakistan. Robi Sen disagrees.
• Jakartass is keeping the score in Indonesia's war on corruption.
• Australia warns of possible terror attacks on Hiltons in Indonesia. I didn't even know Paris was in Bali.
• This might be the first blog in English on Burma by a Burmese. There's some background here, and read this view of the situation in Burma. Well written and heart-felt stuff.
• Singapore's party poopers have rejected plans for a gay Christmas party.
• A short history of Bangladesh.

Miscellany

• Follow the trials and tribulations of the Miss Artificial Beauty contest. The only one where plastic surgery is compulsory.
• Do this quiz.
• Talk about all you can eat.
• A new photoblog: Shanghai Streets (via John)
• If at first you don't succeed, try another 193 times.
• Jeff Ooi, Joi Ito and Isaac Mao were all at the Global Voices conference in Harvard.
• Not everything about pollution is bad.
• In sports news, the Scots have won a world title.

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.

This edition contains China-Japan tensions, the flipside of globalisation, Tron in Japan, a ban on Nike, political and legal changes in North Korea, Indonesia's most wanted, Santa for big boys, and a blogger you should know, plus plenty more...

The 2004 Asia Blog Awards have begun. There are plenty great Asian blogs so go and check some out. Also 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

• Tibet, two book reviews, Chinese history textbooks and New York Times all come together and circle the age-old question of what is truth?
• West Wing does Taiwan.
• The China-Japan relationship is the key one in Asia. ACB has a thorough look at recent developments. Meanwhile the two countries are playing games over specks in the Pacific, thanks to their struggle over engergy. Could it be an intractable problem?
• Is Europe falling for the dragon in place of the eagle?
• China's newest tourism destination: the USA. I can't see it taking off with such high deposits and the same visa restrictions.
• IBM sold its PC-making business to Chinese group Lenovo. Fons says this is an example of the other side of globalisation - Chinese firms being moer assertive in world business.
• Der Spiegel looks at human rights in China.
• China is blaming bad timing for cancelling an international meeting on workers' rights. "The Death of Communism in China is vastly mis-under-exaggerated".
• Richard has more on the clampdown on "public intellectuals" in China.
• A Nike commercial starring LeBron James has caused massive offense in China and been banned. Jodi sees the incident as an example of American ignorance of China. Nike has apologised, although the controversy was probably contrived to generate publicity.
• China's Enron?
• Selling kidneys for money - not just an urban myth.
• A soccer game has been banned for referring to Taiwan and Tibet as seperate regions. Good job they didn't see this.
• John has a potato-potato moment.
• Running Dog on Western propoganda about China.
• The best hot dog in Shanghai.
• A solution for the US dollar crisis is at hand. We just have to wait a week to find out what it is. It's a problem that even stumps Nobel prize winners.

Korea and Japan

• Is Kim Jong-il undertaking political reform in NK? And the NK criminal code is being reformed.
• President Roh went on holidays...to Iraq.
• Korean condoms aren't changing.
• The cream of Korea watchers have written a report on solving the NK nuclear crisis.
• There's logic behind NK's "surprises".
• A look at Japan's postwar military policy.
• Sean looks at the drop in results for Japanese students in a global study. Hong Kong students did well but don't think much of school. Japanese schools can be tough too. Gord looksat the pressures on Korean students.
• Tron comes to Japan.
• North Korea handed over remains of Japanese abductee Megumi Yokota. Except it's not her.
• A high ranking NK defector?
• Happily ever after for Charles Jenkins and his family.
• The Hawaiian who conquered Japan, and how Sumo adapted to TV.
• Oranckay wonders about the latest accusations over politician Lee Chul Woo's alleged membership of the NK Workers' Party.

SE and Other Asia

• Meet Indonesia's most wanted. Jakartass has links to the documents.
• Hicky says goodbye to fellow blogger and author Grace Chow.
• Rezwan is happy and proud to be living in Bangladesh.

Miscellany

• Some recommendations for students of English.
• Shouldn't burger models sample the products they push?
• Stately rodents.
• Santa for big boys.

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.

This edition contains MS spaces censored, Uyghurs and Islam, North Korean beauties, a bird drop in Thailand, dead Singaporean gamblers, the new Chinese IBM, the real meaning of 'Made in China', Christmas in China plus plenty more...

The 2004 Asia Blog Awards nominations have begun. There are plenty great Asian blogs, so get busy and get nominating. Also 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

• Unsurprising news the new Microsoft blogging tool MSN Spaces censors certain Chinese characters (via Glenn)
• A very thorough look at the history and politics of Uyghurs and Islam in China's western province of Xinjiang.
• Dan Washburn rates the various gadgets he took on his pan-China adventure. These are in-the-field reviews of what works and what doesn't, plus Dan's slow drift away from all things electronic.
• Thomas Barnett says China is now similar to the US in the first two decades of the 1900s and the nexus between globalisation and Americanisation is nearing an end.
• Diplomatic it is not.
• It seems England is exporting whinging to Hong Kong.
• George Washington University has opened a Taiwan Studies research centre. It could help with Taiwan's nerd diplomacy.
• Chinese computer maker Lenovo is poised to takeover IBM's PC business. Money isn't a problem. Globalisation in action...although China also leads the world in less glamorous records.
• Brad Setser talks about China's non-manipulation of its currency and the consequences of an investment bust. There's plenty more, such as that China has missed its chance to move from a dollar peg to a basket - keep scrolling down. There's more on myths and facts on China's economy.
• The political economy of coal.
• An easy to use template for Western journos in China (via Jeremy). Andrea finds a journalist who changed her views of the country after visiting (the full survey is here).
• What really happened at Linyi Airport?
• Chinese probabilities explained.
• Has the one child policy been too effective?
• Rebecca MacKinnon looks at China, internet discussions and censorship and says not to place too much on the shoulders of the internet.
• What does Made in China really mean? Then read this.
• Beijing's suicide hotline is the wrong kind of busy.
• Down on his luck, Wanbro is having a bad day.
• As if Chinese wasn't difficult enough already...
• Use of torture is widespread within China.
• If you are thinking of teaching in China, read Hank and his adventures with Mr Happy.
• Chinese beer reviewed. It's a tough job but someone's gotta do it.
• The campaign against public intellectuals has begun.
• Andres has begun interviewing Asian bloggers, starting with Joel from the excellent Far Outliers.

Korea and Japan

• Mobile phones are a hot - if not illegal - item of subversion in NK.
• North Korea is using defection as a cover for spies.
• The handsome men are in the South but the beautiful women are in the North. Now there's a solid case for re-unification.
• Is Kim Jong-il's son South Korean?
• Joe Jones points to a Time story on the incredible life of Charles Jenkins.
• December 7th is the anniversary of Peal Harbour. Justin will always remember the day, and looks at the different perspective many Japanese remember.
• Josh talks about North Korea's guerrillas.
• Andy has more reports from the North Korea Human Rights conference.
• As if nukes and the North wasn't enough, Korea must deal with the menace of killer fans.

SE and Other Asia

• Thailand's origami bird drop didn't quite work out.
• First order of business for Jakarta's city councillors: their perks.
• Australia is boosting its funding for anti-terrorism measures in Indonesia.
• People are dying to gamble in Singapore.

Miscellany

• Is a tomato a fruit or vegetable? It depends if it's in English or Korean.
• There once was Hello Kitty, but now it's San-X.
• Jodi plans to bring Christmas to China.
• Hanzi Smatter is going strong, illustrating misuse of Chinese characters, for example tattoos "green rice". Tian asks if people ever wonder why Chinese or Japanese people don't usually have character tattoos?
• The world's best blog has gone to the dogs.
• WTF?

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.

Asia by Blog is a twice weekly feature at my blog, posted on Mondays and Thursdays (the latest edition is here and the full archive here).

The following is a digest of highlights from the past month's Asia by Blog series. This has been cross-posted at Winds of Change.

The round-up has four key areas of focus:

* China, Taiwan & Hong Kong: Politics, Economy & lifestyle, History sport & culture, Information
* Korea & Japan
* South-East Asia
* Asian Miscellany

China, Taiwan and Hong Kong

Politics

* She defected to China in the 1940s, now American nuclear physicist Joan Hinton is finally getting her green card in China.
* Former WaPo Beijing bureau chief John Pomfret's thoughts on China. John Quiggin wonders is China on its last legs, just as Suharto's was at the end? Check the comments for some thoughtful rebuttals. Personally I think not.
* There has been several ethnic based riots in China in the last few months. There were riots in Henan and in Inner Mongolia, although the band involved in the latter is "ugliest collections of musicians ever assembled since the Traveling Wilburys. Perhaps even the Moody Blues." Fabian has more. More trouble in China's regions: this time a huge troop deployment to control protests over a new dam project. Stephen notes another ethnic riot, this time over kebabs. The CCP is worried about protests and wary of following the Soviet Union. Yet more riots in Guangdong, though this time not ethnic based. The increase in unrest may be due to improved communications.
* A kinder, gentler kind of authoritarian.
* Hemlock (on Monday) picks apart the pleading of HK's pampered public servants.
* Over 3 million people go to Beijing in September to petition for their cause: a look at the system, its vagaries and its inefficiencies. China is going to reform its petitioning system.
* If re-unification issues don't start a war between Taiwan and China, maybe Taiwanification of increasingly rare Chinese brides will.
* Taiwan's opposition leader is certifiably mad.
* China's worries about energy see it prepared to trade away integrity for supplies. Is China's energy diplomacy working? And what about water security? Thomas Barnett worries that while China rapidly secures energy sources and strategic alliances, America is being left behind.
* As part of its energy security and economic push China's role in Central Asia is building.
* Several experts have looked at the prospects for Sino-US relations and potential changes in America's Taiwan policy.
* An interesting contrast in attitudes to wealth and police power in Hong Kong and China.
* A change in the history curriculum for schools in Taiwan reflects Chen's growing push towards independence through the creation of a more distinct Taiwanese culture. From the other side of the Strait, a concise view of Chinese mainstream thinking on Taiwan.
* Colin Powell's parting thoughts on China.
* The US Congressional Executive Commission on China has a Political Prisoner Database. That it exists at all, let alone being so comprehensive, is a reminder of the evil that still lurks in China.
* China may have missed out on World Cup football, but they've found a new one to play with against their old friends Taiwan.
* Andres has a great post covering likely political parties and systems if China had free elections.

Economy and Lifestyle

* A good look at China's economic and foreign exchange policy. There's far more for China to consider and worry about in floating its currency than the US trade deficit. Is China getting ready to shift its exchange rate regime?
* Jeff looks at industrial safety and lack thereof in China.
* Hong Kong's Disneyland is costing more than you think.
* China's emerging middle "stratum".
* China's economic numbers just don't add up.
* Wal-Mart has given in and allowed Chinese trade unions to operate in its stores. Another world first for China.
* 5 Chinese workers protested about not being paid their wages. They went to jail for their troubles. And 24 peasants were beaten up by their boss for asknig for their wages.
* China raised its interest rates for the first time in 9 years.
* China is clamping down on its leaky capital account.
* As part of China's adjustment to a market economy, it is also getting its first corporate lawyers, with all the entails. To think China went 5,000 years without them. But there's proof China's economic boom will soon end. And a market tip on China's currency and rates.
* Hostage negotiation Chinese style.
* Despite their protestations to the contrary, China's economy is still very much a planned one, not a market one. But at least in small ways the rule of law is starting to take hold.
* Ellen looks at sophisticated Chinese counterfeiting schemes - so advanced the counterfeiters are claiming patents themselves! Fakes are a notorious problem in China, the latest being fake Government bonds. But hats off to this guy, who passed himself off as the long dead founder of modern China, Sun Yat-Sen! You can't even trust if the coffee is real anymore.
* New York's port is coming back...thanks (partly) to China.
* Are China's economic policies even more orthodox than America's?

History, Sport and Culture

* A must read: the death of Chinese humour.
* Look through this fascinating list of changing terms used in Chinese papers over the past 50 years. It tells you a lot about the changes the country has gone through in that time.
* While China's soccer is a mess, it's really becoming a modern nation now it is getting its own football hooligan law...but the law isn't just about football.
* The Great Wall of Silence about suicide.
* Why use English signs in China?
* Brilliant title: Bonfire of the bourgeois vanities...Running Dog takes an excellent look at the madness of the Cultural Revolution. In Beijing it's the hottest book at the moment, because it's expected to be banned: Zen Insight. On the same topic comes this excerpt of a similar book on what life was like in those crazy times. Fabian looks at Mao's Little Red Book and its value.
* A creative writing assignment results in some keen insights and differences between Western and Chinese thinking. Matthew also has an interesting clash in the classroom and finds it says a lot about how much China has and hasn't changed in the past twenty years.
* John neatly demonstrates a fundamental difference between Chinese and Western concepts of truth, with the help of some eggs and introduces false modesty as another explanation of the differences.
* Unique Chinese names have forced authorities to limit the number of characters that can be used to a mere 12,000.
* For a first hand account of one journalist's travels through the heart of China, check out Dan Washburn.
* Hong Kong's Alexander the Great.
* Taking the time to enjoy living in China, rather than just criticising it. Similar to what I was getting at here.
* The author of The Rape of Nanking, Iris Chang, committed suicide. Via Kirk comes this detailed and moving look at her life. There were two very different reactions to her passing in Japan.
* Tom (another who's not happy with US Immigration. America's stringent visa policy is costing ever-more: half of the Chinese delegates to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas were refused visas and many of their compatriots and firms withdrew in solidarity.

Information

* We Observe the World is a project by Chinese journalism students, bringing to the world first hand opinions by China's next generation. Joe Bosco is behind the project.
* Via Fons, the Globe and Mail looks at the impact of the internet of China's youth. Could the USA be doing more to help the net in China?
* First it was the free lunch, now the (almost) free ride is about to go in Hong Kong, as are disgusting newspaper photos.
* Mixing politics and profits can be tricky, as the China Youth Daily is discovering. The crackdown on Guangzhou's press continues.
* Andrea has some thoughts on how the Western media reports on China. Also a look at the "frames" and narratives through which many journalists look at China.
* Playing cat and mouse with China's media censors.
* China's war against online porn continues while the old-fashioned kind is out on display.
* Having trouble getting people to see your movie? Not in Shenzhen.
* Judging by the numbers China's newspaper industry is booming. But from the inside the view is not as rosy. China has also made reporting easier - it's listed 8 central and 24 local media websites as the officially approved ones. Being a Chinese reporter isn't easy. Amongst other injustices they don't even get Reporters' Day off. The path to riches is not through newspaper reporting.
* Andres reports on a talk by noted blogger Dan Gilmour and others in Shanghai on the effects of technology on media. Also a look at three factors hampering development of Chinese cyberspace. Slowly and quietly China's bloggers are emerging, says Dan Gilmour. Another example of the emerging digerati in China is the Niu Niu incident, or maybe a blogger's eyewitness murder report. Yet more on the boom in Chinese blogging.
* The Economist keeps it simple and quotes Confucius...or do they?

Korea and Japan

* A mystery Chinese submarine was in Japanese waters, perhaps searching for natural gas, but was, after a fashion, chased away. China urged calm while Japan went mad with questions without answers. More proof of the seriousness China is taking its energy security. Winston Marshall has a good and detailed look at the incident and the broader Sino-Japan dynamic. Between China and Japan sorry can be the hardest word. With the APEC meeting in Chile the two countries' leaders are getting ready for a summit. A duet of "Yellow Submarine"? Matthew has Mao's thoughts on the starting point.
* The China/Japan rivalry is the real threat to Asian security, according to Fabian. While the two are clearly rivals, they also depend upon each other far more (especially economically) than the antagonists in the previous Cold War. Also a look at US troops in Japan and their affect on China and the region.
* Condi Rice's thoughts on North Korea. Adamu reports some interestingly different views on the North, its future and how it is not a threat.
* South Korea is no longer the sex utopia for US troops it once was.
* The always fascinating Far Outliers has an excerpt looking at the Greater East Asia War and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was to include Hawaii.
* Jodi looks at a shocking form of discrimination against HIV positive non-Koreans.
* Seoul will remain Korea's capital (forcing some to drink) and Infidel uses the decision to look at the regional rivalries and disparities within the two Koreas. Oranckay looks at the same thing from a political view. Infidel also looks at the economic and political preparations for Korean unification.
* Japan is contemplating allowing Empresses.
* Korea has the fourth highest suicide rate after Hungary, Japan and Finland. Marmot's found a common factor between all four countries.
* Japan's aging population may not be all bad news.
* When he's not busy ruling with an iron fist, Kim Jong-Il likes to blog. It may not last long: South Korea is moving to block many pro-North websites.
* Japan's forces in Iraq will extend their tour of duty.
* Terrorists took a Japanese hostage in Iraq, but Koizumi will not withdraw troops. Joi Ito has an interesting slant on the Japanese reaction.
* If you thought being North Korean was hard, try being a gay North Korean.
* Japan, famous for its low crime rate, finds its prisons are over-crowded. Although with only 61,500 odd prisoners out of a population of 127.3 million, the reputation is intact.
* South Korea's Government is trying to work out what to call North Korean escapees. NKZone has a look about why these "economic migrants" are desperately trying to escape. The recent court-martial of Robert Jenkins also provides an insight into living in NK.
* Japan's working girls work on getting a-head.
* Japan's Iraqi hostage was found dead after Japan steadfastedly refused to remove troops from Iraq. Japan's people are behind PM Koizumi in staying firm on its Iraq policy.
* Even North Korea's fast food sucks.
* An excellent look at how Japan's culture holds it back.
* The Norks are ready to test a missile which can reach the United States, while the people prepare for famine.
* "Korea without kimchi is still Korea".
* Meet Charisma Man...more examples here. Maybe he should start with this line.
* The people of North Korea aren't as passive and compliant as commonly believed.
* America has drawn up its red lines for North Korea. Kirk has an interesting discussion with a Japanese bureaucrat about dynasties and North Korea.
* A Chinese nuclear (yellow) submarine may have entered Japanese waters. Jodi wonders if China is really the threat?
* Thomas P. Barnett (via NK Zone) asks why does Pyongyang and Taipei run America's relationship with China?
* Did (newly unionised) Wal-Mart help bring down those Kim Jong-il pictures? More seriously Bradley K. Martin asks if the move is a brand protection strategy. Kimchi GI points out the top NK general wouldn't be in Cuba if something was going on.

SE and Other Asia

* Indian Hindu nationalism as dangerous as Islamic fundamentalism.
* Thai monks know how to party.
* Like that other rising Asian power, India's military needs to modernise.
* Thailand's PM is facing a tough choice in dealing with the southern violence. A dubious report linking Malaysia's PAS and Thailand's southern Muslims is dealt with by Myrick.
* India is following China's lead in worrying about energy security.
* Anwar returns to Malaysia.
* SBY spells out his plans for Indonesia and Macam-Macam takes a look at the answers.
* Singapore is the only developed nation at the bottom of the world press freedom rankings. They're not happy about the company they keep. An insider's view on Singapore's press, by the Straits Times former global-affairs columnist, covering everything from Singapore's racism to its censorship.
* Steven notes the similarities between the Ukraine elections and a certain SE Asia island nation.
* Philippines tax avoidance scheme: religion.
* Singapore's getting "safer", and Hicky rightly worries about cameras in the classroom. And Singapore's opposition leader has lost his appeal against a defamation case.
* India's Government is trying to ban detailed maps of the country.
* Mahathir interfering in the internal affairs of another country? It might be against "Asian values" but it didn't stop him.
* India sees China as a strategic threat and containment strategies will not work in the longer term.
* Pol Pot's cremation site is now a tourist attraction.
* Asian reactions to Arafat's death.
* Indonesia comes clean on its spying of Australia during the East Timor crisis. It was also the 13th anniversary of the Dili massacre.
* Outsourcing has even hit India's idol business.

Miscellany

* A look at the rise of Asian film-making.
* The Far Eastern Economic Review is to close, which isn't a surprise. There have been other media lay-offs this week, and ex-editor Philip Bowring has an "obit" for the FEER.
* At last, proof of the long-held theory.
* Quentin Tarantino's going local. He could get these guys to write the script.
* Fabian has the first installment of his weekly round-up of Maoist insurgents around the world, plus he lists former Maoists or Marxist-Leninists and where they are now. And meet the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, a (you guessed it) Maoist party based in, of all places, France.
* The mouthless cat turned 30. She turns up in interesting places and of course she's got a blog.
* Another reason why Coke is it.
* America's visa restrictions are costing it billions each year.
* Rory gives us a lesson in what not to cook: a fried kimchi and ham sandwich. It has to be seen to be believed. The Mohamed Ali of eating is a scrawny Japanese man.
* Everything you want to know about Hello Kitty, and some things you don't as well.
* I am so glad I did not go to university in Hong Kong.

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 HK's ripoff Disneyland, potential Chinese political parties, fake coffee, Wal-Mart giving in to China and bringing down Kim Jong-il, a neat summary of the Taiwan problem, The Economist getting Confucius wrong, a 6 point plan for NK, a letter from a former Straits Times writer, everything you wanted to know about Maoists today plus plenty more...

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• Wayne thoroughly covers the upcoming Taiwanese Legislative Yuan elections.
• Ellen says if re-unification issues don't start a war between Taiwan and China, maybe Taiwanification of increasingly rare Chinese brides will.
• Hong Kong's Disneyland is costing more than you think.
• China is clamping down on students following Falun Gong...in South Africa.
• Is China on its last legs, just as Suharto's was at the end? Check the comments for some thoughtful rebuttals. Personally I think not.
• Andres has a great post covering likely political parties and systems if China had free elections.
• New York's port is coming back...thanks (partly) to China.
• Did the Cultural Revolution lead to the current cosseted generation of Little Emperors?
• You can't even trust if the coffee is real anymore.
• Glutter says goodbye to Jim Wong.
• Thomas Barnett looks at how Greater China (ie including HK and Taiwan) is eclipsing China as a Great Power, at least economically. He also looks at how China's growing consumer market is changing how foreign investors view it and the fall-out of a Chinese recession.
• Wal-Mart has given in and allowed Chinese trade unions to operate in its stores. Another world first for China.
• The crash of a China Eastern plane in Inner Mongolia has sparked a round of xenophobic reactions.
• Google is testing a Chinese translation tool.
• As part of its energy security and economic push China's role in Central Asia is building.
• Hemlock (Thrs entry) neatly sums up the Chinese leadership's Taiwan problem.
• ACB's Rabbit Hole series continues with the excellent Understanding China which broadly looks at Chinese people's likes and dislikes, Energy and the facts on MSG.
• If she's plainly dressed, she's a cop not a hooker.
• John's follow-up to his look at differences between Chinese and Western notions of honesty introduces false modesty as another explanation.
• Famous Chinese sex blogger Muzi Mei turns up...in Germany.
• America's stringent visa policy is costing ever-more: half of the Chinese delegates to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas were refused visas and many of their compatriots and firms withdrew in solidarity.
• More on the boom in Chinese blogging.
• Thanksgiving means snowtime in Xi'an.
• Shanghai is downsizing itself.
• Are China's economic policies even more orthodox than America's?
• A guide to women in Hangzhou.
• The Economist keeps it simple and quotes Confucius...or do they?

Korea and Japan

• Nick Eberstadt has a 6 point plan that could (and should) be the basis of Bush's new North Korea policy. Why do all things North Korean revolve around the number 6? Rebecca MacKinnon isn't convinced by Bush's statement that the 5 countries on talks with North Korea are united. Others say the NK problem should be only resolved by Koreans themselves, which would be fine if they didn't have nukes. The Norks themselves just want to get along and "co-exist". It's all just a game to some.
• Did (newly unionised) Wal-Mart help bring down those Kim Jong-il pictures? More seriously Bradley K. Martin asks if the move is a brand protection strategy. Kimchi GI points out the top NK general wouldn't be in Cuba if something was going on.
• Despite haltering attempts at rapprochement from the leaderships, Japan's stock is falling with ordinary Chinese citizens.
• The Norks are ready to test a missile which can reach the United States, while the people prepare for famine.
• China again asked Japan PM Koizumi to stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine to war dead, including war criminals. Sean rightly points out Japan has done lamentably little in showing true remorse and redressing its war crimes.
• A cheating scandal in South Korea's exams. Jodi explains the huge pressure these schoolkids are under. Duophony asks why do the students think it was OK?
• It's a helluva way to find your father.
• 66% of Japanese women said they had been groped on trains or the station. Lee thinks he might know why.
• In Japan it might be worthwhile filling in those feedback forms.
• The origins of the word kamikaze.
• Via Gord comes this account of Liberation Day celebrations in North Korea.
• Japan is stepping up its role in Japan-US defense relations.

SE and Other Asia

• India's Government is trying to ban detailed maps of the country.
• Steven notes the similarities between the Ukraine elections and a certain SE Asia island nation. He also reprints a great letter (also at Mr Brown and Singapore Commentator) from Pranay Gupte, the Straits Times former global-affairs columnist, covering everything from Singapore's racism to its censorship.
• Is India instinctively socialist?
• Al-Jazeera is setting up a base in Malaysia.

Miscellany

• Fabian has the first installment of his weekly round-up of Maoist insurgents around the world, plus he lists former Maoists or Marxist-Leninists and where they are now. And meet the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, a (you guessed it) Maoist party based in, of all places, France.
• Reason not to work as zookeeper number 201: horny elephants can kill.
• A couple of Hong Kongers have found Noah's Ark...with one little problem.
• The vibrating condom should hook up with this guy.
• Very un-PC toothpaste.
• The Wu-Tang Clan, hip-hop and the link between China and growing up black.

A guide for the Asia by Blog series.

If you have additional questions please leave them in the comments and I will answer them in this post.

Q: How often does Asia by Blog appear?
A: Typically every Monday and Thursday.

Q: Why did it not appear this week?
A: I am doing this on my own and in my spare time. If I am on holidays, sick or too busy it may not appear. Instead try surfing the blogs in the "Featured Asian", "Hong Kong" or "Asian" blogrolls and having a look at what they are saying.

Q: Can you notify me of new editions?
A: Please send an email to simon-at-simonworld-dot-mu-dot-nu and I will add you to the email notification group.

Q: How do you compile it?
A: Without giving away too many secrets, I read the blogs off my Hong Kong, Featured Asian and Asian rolls and add links to those entries I find interesting.

Q: How can I submit an entry or my blog?
A: You cannot. What you can do is send me an email and I will look at the post and/or your blog. If you are posting about the current events in Asia then there is a good chance I will add a link in an upcoming edition. If you are posting about what you had for lunch last week, a link is unlikely. You can get a feel for the kind of entries that get linked by reading past editions here. Alternatively follow some of the links and blogs that are on the various rolls and start linking to them. Often I find entries by following links at other blogs and posts.

Q: How can I repay you for your efforts?
A: Great question. There are several ways. Firstly help promote the Asia by Blog series, either by linking it on your own blog or mentioning it to others who are interested in Asia (this is also a good way for me to notice your blog and start linking to it). Secondly I have an Amazon wishlist with plenty of items for you to choose from. Thirdly I take all major credit cards.

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 Chinese vs Western truth, troubles with US immigration policies, a new football game, Chinese bloggers, what you can really see from space, dead conmen, the death of US troops' sex utopia and a new indoor Thai tourist spot plus plenty more...

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• John neatly demonstrates a fundamental difference between Chinese and Western concepts of truth, with the help of some eggs.
• Jiao Guobiao (writer of the "Declaration Against the Central Propaganda Bureau") gives an interview saying it is the responsibility of intellectuals to speak up, while the SCMP (sub req'd) reports Beijing has banned media discussions of the role of intellectuals in China's development.
• Thomas Barnett worries that while China rapidly secures energy sources and strategic alliances, America is being left behind.
• The path to riches is not through newspaper reporting.
• Chris deals with Jonathan Fenby's Dealing with the Dragon.
• I am so glad I did not go to university in Hong Kong.
• Tom (another who's not happy with US Immigration - maybe Taiwan-bound Roy could help) breaks down China's trade figures.
• The US Congressional Executive Commission on China has a Political Prisoner Database. That it exists at all, let alone being so comprehensive, is a reminder of the evil that still lurks in China.
• More dam trouble brewing.
• China may have missed out on World Cup football, but they've found a new one to play with against their old friends Taiwan.
• Slowly and quietly China's bloggers are emerging, says Dan Gilmour. Another example of the emerging digerati in China is the Niu Niu incident, or maybe a blogger's eyewitness murder report.
• In China's classless society, being a soldier has privileges.
• The flipside of the China bubble: over-capacity and over-supply.
• Jeff looks at industrial safety and lack thereof in China. For example: China produced 35 percent of the world's coal last year, but reported 80 percent of the total deaths in coal mine accidents. Again muddied stats make it difficult to find the truth.
• Acupuncture beats drugs. If it didn't work, it wouldn't sill be around.
• You can't see the Great Wall in space. But you can see the Great Brown Cloud.
• Fakes are a notorious problem in China, the latest being fake Government bonds. But hats off to this guy, who passed himself off as the long dead founder of modern China, Sun Yat-Sen. He extorted over 500,000 yuan!

Korea and Japan

• North Korea's changing pictures means little (Andy's not optimistic either) and is furiously denied by the Norks. The source of the story isn't pure, notes Marmot (who also has a great story about a previous picture debacle in the North). There are always strange things going on there - it's when they stop it is time to worry. NK Zone is rounding up theories (and asking for more)
• While on NK, Adamu reports some interestingly different views on the North, its future and how it is not a threat.
• South Korea is no longer the sex utopia for US troops it once was.

SE and Other Asia

• An insider's view on Singapore's press.
• A look at the historical interaction between India and China.
• Thailand's newest tourism venture: visiting maximum security prisoners.
• Singapore is seeing a rapid rise in new HIV infections, but control efforts are stymied by outdated laws banning homosexuality.

Miscellany

• He might be ready for Chinese opera, but is Chinese opera ready for him?
• The Mohamed Ali of eating is a scrawny Japanese man.
• What a question.

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 Chinese corporate lawyers, the death of Chinese humour, Colin Powell's thoughts on China and Condi Rice's on North Korea, China's water woes, Taiwan's history changes, the factors hampering the development of China's cyberspace, a new member of the axis of evil, Martha in Vietnam plus plenty more...

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• A must read: the death of Chinese humour.
• ACB has started a journey down the rabbit hole: a collection of observations on China, based on the breaking of the laws of physics. So far up are Time and Space, with Light and Sound to come.
• As part of China's adjustment to a market economy, it is also getting its first corporate lawyers, with all the entails. To think China went 5,000 years without them. But there's proof China's economic boom will soon end. And a market tip on China's currency and rates.
• Colin Powell's parting thoughts on China.
• Andres reports on a talk by noted blogger Dan Gilmour and others in Shanghai on the effects of technology on media.
• A piece of history at the HKCC.
• Hong Kong's Chief Executive is against the proposed democracy referendum. Which means no more mangoes (Thurs 18th Nov entry). Nevertheless moves are afoot to start Hong Kong's independence movement.
• Is China's energy diplomacy working? And what about water security?
• A review of Zhao Ziyang: Power Struggle in China 1986-88 with some amazing insights into China at a crucial time.
• Lest you doubt it, China still firmly believes in Big Brother.
• China's soccer dreams are at an end already.
• A change in the history curriculum for schools in Taiwan reflects Chen's growing push towards independence through the creation of a more distinct Taiwanese culture. From the other side of the Strait, a concise view of Chinese mainstream thinking on Taiwan.
• A look at the "frames" and narratives through which many journalists look at China.
• More riots, this time in Guangdong, though this time not ethnic based. The increase in unrest may be due to improved communications.
• Ellen looks at sophisticated Chinese counterfeiting schemes - so advanced the counterfeiters are claiming patents themselves!
• Tom trashes HK's (il)Liberal Party's opposition to a minimum wage.
• China is going to reform its petitioning system.
• Some observations from a businessman visiting China.
• Three factors hampering development of Chinese cyberspace.

Korea and Japan

• Kim's pictures are coming down and he's no longer the "Dear Leader". Somehow I don't think it means much.
• Between China and Japan sorry can be the hardest word. With the APEC meeting in Chile the two countries' leaders are getting ready for a summit. A duet of "Yellow Submarine"? Matthew has Mao's thoughts on the starting point.
• Is South Korea going to take Iraq's place in the Axis of Evil? Showing up your American hosts never helps your lobbying efforts. It's OK, because South Korea has a new ally anyway.
• The human cost of NK's kidnappings of Japanese citizens.
• Meet Dr. Hwang Woo-suk, professor of vet studies and soon to be (Korean) ruler of the world.
• The always fascinating Far Outliers has an excerpt looking at the Greater East Asia War and the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, which was to include Hawaii.
• A look at Condi Rice's thoughts on North Korea.
• The status NK refugees handed over to the Chinese police by the Shanghai American school is still unresolved.
• It's important to pick your battles.
• Japan is contemplating allowing Empresses.

SE and Other Asia

• Myrick has an idea on how to improve Singapore's crack troops. Maybe they could use human Pac-Man for training.
• India is following China's lead in worrying about energy security.
• Martha's lucky she doesn't live in Vietnam.
• The most expensive office rents are not where you think.
• Singapore's not happy about the company it keeps in terms of media freedom.

Miscellany

• Japan, home of all things electronic, has proof of their tech savvy. 45% change their ringtones monthly.
• Find out where most of your spam comes from.
• Everything you want to know about Hello Kitty, and some things you don't as well.
• Quiz time: dog treat or Chinese herb?

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 Chinese condoms, sexless Singaporeans, the death of an author, Japan's aging population, Chinese subs in Japan, North Korean study, a WaPo bureau chief's thoughts on China, progress on the Kurils and plenty more...

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• Richard reports on the former WaPo Beijing bureau chief John Pomfret's thoughts on China.
• Hong Kong: One country, two systems, lots of legal junkets.
• An interesting contrast in attitudes to wealth and police power in Hong Kong and China.
• The author of The Rape of Nanking, Iris Chang, committed suicide. Via Kirk comes this detailed and moving look at her life. There were two very different reactions to her passing in Japan.
• Is China getting ready to shift its exchange rate regime?
• The not-always-reliable Epoch Times is reporting on a push to free former Premier Zhao Ziyang from house arrest.
• Hong Kong's known as the stress capital of Asia. But help is on the way.
• The CCP is worried about protests and wary of following the Soviet Union. The difference being China has far more history and is more culturally homogenous than the Russian-dominated USSR.
• Unique Chinese names have forced authorities to limit the number of characters that can be used to a mere 12,000.
• For those Chinese working overseas and thinking of returning to China, Wang Jianshuo has some useful thoughts.
• Sex sells: interestingly named condoms, China's sexual prowess and FHM is pushing the limits, although it appears rumours of a China Playboy are just that.
• The secrets of HK prison life revealed.
• What is Chinese for Yahoo? What about hip-hop?
• China's foreign policy charm offensive continues, this time with Jakarta. Some in China think the US is trying to restrict access to regional natural resources and China is becoming more active in its diplomacy throughout Asia to counter it. Not just ASEAN either, but in Central Asia as well, as they seek to counter looming energy shortages.
• Another sign that China is catching up to Japan: death by overwork.
• Andrea has some thoughts on how the Western media reports on China.
• How did I miss the 2004 Miss Chinese Cosmos Pageant?
• Who'd have thought Vanuatu is worth fighting over?

Korea and Japan

• Japan's forces in Iraq will extend their tour of duty.
• North Korea's in the wars again, so to speak. It's economy is falling apart (via Joe). Marmot comprehensively covers two American experts' comments on Korea. Thomas P. Barnett (via NK Zone) asks why does Pyongyang and Taipei run America's relationship with China? And the South continues to do its best to take every negotiating tool off the table in a "stunningly naive" speech, but Jodi notes a slight softening of NK's stance.
• At least those in the North can surf the net.
• A mystery Chinese submarine was in Japanese waters, perhaps searching for natural gas, but was, after a fashion, chased away. China urged calm while Japan went mad with questions without answers. More proof of the seriousness China is taking its energy security. Winston Marshall has a good and detailed look at the incident and the broader Sino-Japan dynamic.
• There's reminder about subs for South Koreans as well.
• What to get the academic that has everything? How about a degree from North Korea's Kim Il-Sung University.
• Some helpful Japanese insults for you.
• Japan's aging population may not be all bad news.
• Some progress on Japan's dispute with Russia on the Kuril Islands.
• For fans of Sumo, the origins of the top rank yokozuna.
• Woojay has a three part series on Korea and Koreans, based on personal experience but full of astute observations: part one on education and self-expression; part two on repression and pressure in high school; and part three on the Recoil Effect, anti-communism education and lives and society in transition.
• The North Koreans are getting some radios. I wonder if they'll be sending batteries too?
• Crazy Japanese products department: Recyclable bras and lap dancing pillows.

SE and Other Asia

• Asian reactions to Arafat's death.
• Indonesia comes clean on its spying of Australia during the East Timor crisis. It was also the 13th anniversary of the Dili massacre.
• Singapore aims to beat AIDS without talking about sex. Very enlightened.
• Outsourcing has even hit India's idol business.

Miscellany

• No wonder they think Westerners are crazy (via Marmot).
• Tonight on the menu is rat du jour.
• That's why it's called the Great Wall.

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 Chinese Playboy, Superman, Alexander the Great, yellow submarines, hungry wedding guests, worried Hawaiians, and plenty more...

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• Fresh from turning Clark County Republican, The Guardian has an in-depth look at China this week. Chris picks some of the better articles. And for a first hand account of one journalist's travels through the heart of China, check out Dan Washburn. Dan has an unforgettable bus ride. He's posted a new batch of photos from his journey across China.
• Hong Kong's Alexander the Great.
• China's labour shortage has forced 5 cities to team up and a Government paper on improving working conditions for migrant workers. The labour shortage is forcing better conditions and pay for these workers. My God, it's the market in action! Also there are 100 million peasants who have not joined trade unions in China and there are 4 major ways their rights are violated.
• In the old days it was paper and pen. Now there's a new way to pass exams.
• China's economic numbers just don't add up.
• Judging by the numbers China's newspaper industry is booming. But from the inside the view is not as rosy. China has also made reporting easier - it's listed 8 central and 24 local media websites as the officially approved ones. Being a Chinese reporter isn't easy. Amongst other injustices they don't even get Reporters' Day off.
• A look at China's Africa strategy. Most of China's foreign policy is being driven by one thing at the moment: oil. Also a look at dissent within China.
• Stephen notes another ethnic riot, this time over kebabs.
• Superman would feel at home in Shanghai.
• Several experts have looked at the prospects for Sino-US relations and potential changes in America's Taiwan policy.
• Is the end in sight for the one-child policy?
• China's clamping down hard on Tibet (via Enzo and RFC)
• China may be getting its own version of Playboy.
• A quick primer on Chinese geography.
• Taking the time to enjoy living in China, rather than just criticising it. Similar to what I was getting at here.

Korea and Japan

• A Chinese nuclear (yellow) submarine may have entered Japanese waters. Jodi wonders if China is really the threat?
• America has drawn up its red lines for North Korea.
• The people of North Korea aren't as passive and compliant as commonly believed.
• Old Korean culture meets the new. And now all things Korea are big in Japan.
• South Korea's social revolution and what next for US-South Korean relations.
• There is a justification for student homicide in Korea.
• Fly Korean Airlines, get a jolt.
• Kirk has an interesting discussion with a Japanese bureaucrat about dynasties and North Korea.
• South Korea's sports coaches have been learning some disturbing tricks from their Northern friends.

SE and Other Asia

• Pol Pot's cremation site is now a tourist attraction.
• In Singapore lecturers don't need to worry about cameras in the classroom. It's their contracts they need to worry about.
• A dubious report linking Malaysia's PAS and Thailand's southern Muslims is dealt with by Myrick.
• Thailand's PM Thaskin is carrying on an Asia taxpayer tradition.
• In Nepal, the media are being intimidated by the Maoists.
• Philippines tax avoidance scheme: religion.
• SBY spells out his plans for Indonesia and Macam-Macam takes a look at the answers.
• No food at Pakistan weddings.

Miscellany

• From World War 2, the dismal choice the Hawaii's residents faced in light of Japanese thoughts of invading the islands.
• America's visa restrictions are costing it billions each year.
• Not only is it the International Year of Rice, it's almost over!
• A gap in cultural understanding.
• For all you RSS freaks, now you can get the cute version. A Hello Kitty version can't be far off.
• After all those links, something a little easier on the eyes.
• Happy Deepavali.

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. Please send me an email if you would like to be notified of new editions. Previous editions can be found here.

This edition contains China's petitions system, simulated nukes for North Korea, energy security for the Middle Kingdom, the many seasons of China, Japan's bursting prisons, Japan's working girls, Singapore's new security efforts and a sandwich you need to see to believe, plus plenty more...

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• China's Olympic preparations are taking a bottoms-up approach. They are going to be lucky Games.
• Hemlock (on Monday) picks apart the pleading of HK's pampered public servants.
• Over 3 million people go to Beijing in September to petition for their cause: a look at the system, its vagaries and its inefficiencies.
• Taiwan's opposition leader is certifiably mad.
• More trouble in China's regions: this time a huge troop deployment to control protests over a new dam project.
• There's far more for China to consider and worry about in floating its currency than the US trade deficit.
• China's worries about energy see it prepared to trade away integrity for supplies.
• Getting wealthy in China and India also means getting fat.
• Via Fons and Andrea comes a new China aggregator: Watching China.
• It only took 130 years, but the fire is finally out.
• There are more than four seasons in China.
• China's war against online porn continues while the old-fashioned kind is out on display.
• Matthew has an interesting clash in the classroom and finds it says a lot about how much China has and hasn't changed in the past twenty years. It also highlights how powerful words remain in a country like China.
• Having trouble getting people to see your movie? Not in Shenzhen.

Korea and Japan

• The China/Japan rivalry is the real threat to Asian security, according to Fabian. While the two are clearly rivals, they also depend upon each other far more (especially economically) than the antagonists in the previous Cold War. Also a look at US troops in Japan and their affect on China and the region.
• Infidel looks at the debate over South Korea's National Security Law.
• When he's not busy ruling with an iron fist, Kim Jong-Il likes to blog. It may not last long: South Korea is moving to block many pro-North websites.
• South Korea has found a new place to search for minerals: the North.
• Japan, famous for its low crime rate, finds its prisons are over-crowded. Although with only 61,500 odd prisoners out of a population of 127.3 million, the reputation is intact.
• America has simulated dropping 30 nukes on the North. By my estimates, that would leave exactly nothing to actually invade, while nicely wiping out the millions of impoverished North Koreans. Mutually Assured Destruction.
• South Korea's Government is trying to work out what to call North Korean escapees. NKZone has a look about why these "economic migrants" are desperately trying to escape. The recent court-martial of Robert Jenkins also provides an insight into living in NK.
• Japan's working girls work on getting a-head.
• Japan's people are behind PM Koizumi in staying firm on its Iraq policy.
• Those popular gluttony contests don't always end with just a full stomach.

SE and Other Asia

• Singapore's getting "safer", and Hicky rightly worries about cameras in the classroom.
• Singapore's opposition leader has lost his appeal against a defamation case.
• India sees China as a strategic threat and containment strategies will not work in the longer term.
• Gunboat diplomacy in Cambodia (admittedly over one hundred years ago, but it just proves nothing ever changes).

Miscellany

• If this stuff works why haven't I seen a Cambodian body builder?
• Don't forget to check out all the good news (yes, good news) coming out of Iraq, with Arthur's 14th edition of his excellent series. Otherwise try touring the world by blog.
• The Countdown has begun.
• Rory gives us a lesson in what not to cook: a fried kimchi and ham sandwich. It has to be seen to be believed.

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. Please send me an email if you would like to be notified of new editions. Previous editions can be found here.

This edition contains riots in China, kimchi, Chinese women's attitudes to sex, tourism in the wrong places, a pre-emptive strike on Australia, Quentin Tarantino's scriptwriter and another use for Coke, plus plenty more.

Hong Kong, China and Taiwan

• There has been several ethnic based riots in China in the last few months. There were riots in Henan and in Inner Mongolia, although the band involved in the latter is "ugliest collections of musicians ever assembled since the Traveling Wilburys. Perhaps even the Moody Blues." Fabian has more.
• China is clamping down on its leaky capital account.
• Playing cat and mouse with China's media censors. It's easy to write articles in Chinese papers: just take a travel guide and type.
• Chinese women like sex.
• Hostage negotiation Chinese style.
• A kinder, gentler kind of authoritarian.
• The Great Wall of Silence about suicide.
• Despite their protestations to the contrary, China's economy is still very much a planned one, not a market one. But at least in small ways the rule of law is starting to take hold.