· December, 2007

Stories about East Asia from December, 2007

Lusosphere: Wishes and hopes for 2008

  31 December 2007

The new year is inevitably soon arriving and the Lusosphere is booming with posts about traditions, resolutions, wishes, and reflections. Here is a short roundup of Portuguese speaking blogs from Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Mozambique and Portugal - although countries far apart, they share the language and hopes for a better future.

Taiwan: Demos Chiang

  31 December 2007

Demos Chiang is the great grandson of Chiang Kai-shek, the KMT dictator and he started to blog. ESWN translated local report on Demos Chiang's move and his blog post on Dec 27, about his political viewpoint on the anti-Chiang political process and blue-green politics.

South Korea: DLP Leaders to be Resigned

  31 December 2007

CINA pointed out the Democratic Labour Party has the greatest loss in the Presidential election as their sympathizers/members had voted for the right wing candidate Lee Hoi-chang. The mainstream had reported that the DLP leadership is to be resigned.

China: Ant Farmers’ Open Letter to Hu Jintao

  31 December 2007

Zoula has reposted Luliang Ant Farmers’ Open Letter the State president Hu Jintao (zh). The farm said that local government had to be responsible for the bankruptcy of Yilishen and they demanded for throughout investigation on the issue and the return of guarantee fund.

Hong Kong: Top News in 2007 Blogosphere

  31 December 2007

As the year end is approaching, local blogger sidekick has her picks of "Top News in Hong Kong 2007 Blogosphere". She also calls for more comments and suggestions for the year end round up. Below is a translation of her selection:

Philippines: Sweet Treat

  31 December 2007

Eating Asia has a pictorial post on how people in rural Philippines work out a sweet treat with a stick and a can of molasses.

Thailand: Censoring Thaksin

  31 December 2007

Bangkok Pundit comments on Thai officials attempts at censoring former prime minister Thaksin's appearance on Thai media.

Malaysia: Getting The Page Rank Back

  31 December 2007

5xmom is happy to get her google page rank back and swears to stay off paid posts. “No more selling text links, no more paid posts on the these three blogs until Google define what I am allowed to do.”

Japan: Web visionary Umeda Mochio

  30 December 2007

While famous in Japan as a web visionary, Silicon Valley resident Umeda Mochio, president of Muse Associates, co-founder of Pacifica Fund and board member of the Japanese bookmarking and diary service Hatena, is little-known overseas. His recent book "Web Shinkaron" ("Theory of Web Evolution") sold 370,000 copies and become a national besteller in Japan. Umeda was recently interviewed by the Japanese magazine Central Review (Chuo koron), portions of which are introduced and translated in this post.

China: Official Olympics channel's unveiling ceremony crashed

  29 December 2007

How did a couple's marital issues become today's top sports story? She's a prominent Beijing television broadcaster, he's one of Chinese sports news' top official faces for the Olympics; she just crashed his high-profile unveiling of China's new Olympics channel, and someone's put the video online.

Korea: Three Singers and Military Service

  28 December 2007

How much can military service change your life? There were three singers in Korea. The first singer, Yoo Seung Joon, who grew up in the U.S., but still kept the Korean citizenship, debuted in Korea in 1997. With a sweet voice and fit body, he got attention instantly and has...

Myanmar: Video Showing September Violence

  28 December 2007

Agam's Gecko points to a new video clip that has emerged from Myanmar. “As if the world needed anymore evidence that the brutal Burmese regime has got to go now, but here is some more anyway. I've been told it's been given to CNN — but it only surfaced this...

China: Hospital Sues Local Governments

  28 December 2007

Last month a rural migrant worker set fire on himself after he failed to collect 1000 yuan wage from the boss. He was sent to the hospital with promise from Yunnan and Shenzhen government for the hospital fee. After one month 700,000 yuan has been spent, the hospital is at...

China: 1Bao Blocked

  28 December 2007

In Dec 26, 1bao was blocked again, Zhai Minglei said he would continue to write and wait for the blog to be unblocked again (zh).

Hong Kong: Wedding Card Street

  28 December 2007

Lee Tung Street, more known as the wedding card street, located at Wanchai downtown is demolishing under the urban renewal project. A local resident May, age 59, had hunger strike for 4 days to save the street, yesterday she fainted and was sent to the emergency ward – more from...

China: Scientist's Wage

  28 December 2007

China Scientist's wage is the lowest among 38 countries according to a EU report. Gezhi points out that, the real income maybe higher as many of the scientists in China is not depending on wage, but other side income (zh).

About our East Asia coverage

Oiwan Lam
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Mong Palatino
Mong Palatino is the South East Asia editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.