THE FAR EAST

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THE FAR EAST

• China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan

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FAR EAST, basics

• Has variety of climates including mountains,
  cold, Pacific waters
• One of earliest cultural hearths and one of
  oldest contiguous civilizations
• Most populous geographic region but population
  concentrated on east coast
• China primarily rural
• West territories of China important economically,
  but create social problems because of proximity
  to Islam

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BASICS, cont.

• Economic transformation occurring along Pacific
  Rim
• Relations between countries strained because of
  growing economic disparities and minority issues
• Japan has history of colonial expansion that
  still affects relations with other countries
• Has number of flashpoints that could cause war
  including North/South Korea and Taiwan

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CHINA

• One of oldest continuous cultures in world
• Chinese see China as best civilization and
  eternal power
• Influenced heavily by Confucius
• Philosopher who taught human virtues NOT godly
  connections determine place in society
• Ruled by dynasties for over 40 centuries
• Country primarily Buddhist
• 1.6 Billion people
• Land area about same size as US

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IMPACT OF WEST ON CHINA

• Marco Polo first European to see China and
  returned with many interesting stories
• China resisted colonization because saw itself as
  already heart of civilization
• Resisted involvement by West until West
  introduced Opium
• Chinese fought series of Opium War to try and
  remove British, but only helped in getting more
  countries involved in China
• World powers divided China into pieces like a pie

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GETTING RID OF WESTERN NATIONS

• Civil War
• Between Chaing Kai-shek and Mao Zedong
  (nationalists and communists)
• Fought on and off from 1912 until 1949 but fought
  together against Japanese
• 1949 takes over after Long March

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MAJOR LEADERS
Sun Yat Sen
Mao Zedong
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PROBLEMS FACING CHINA

• Remnants of Cultural Revolution
• Maos attempt between 1967 and 1977 to rid China
  of all outside influences
• Really just excuse to kill off enemies
• Still dealing with lack of intelligentsia to rule
  country
• Population
• 1.2 billion population difficult to feed and
  provide jobs for
• Single Child policy as had to .9 population
  growth
• Industrial Base
• Primarily agricultural based economy
• Most people live on farms so industrialization
  could create more problems because people lose
  jobs and arent trained in factory jobs

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TAIWAN

• Claimed by PRC who views Taiwan as disobedient
  state
• Until 1970s US recognized ROC as official
  government in China but under Nixon, US changed
  to One-China Policy
• 1990s economic downturn in Japan did NOT affect
  Taiwan much
• Current Problems Political because Economically
  Strong
• US rebuilt Taiwan and does large amount of trade
  but still agrees to One-China Policy
• Taiwan does huge amounts of trade with PRC
• During 1990s held clean and clear democratic
  elections for Parliament and President
• Taiwan torn between wanting to fight for
  independence and keeping peace with PRC
• Future economically bright but politically
  unstable

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JAPAN AND KOREAS
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JAPAN

• Geographic features
• 4 major islands with steep, rocky mountains
• Active volcanoes and earthquake prone
• Ethnically homogenous
• Dominant Religion is Shinto polytheistic,
  worship of ancestors and belief emperor is divine

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JAPAN FUTURE

• After WWII, modernized and industrialized
• 78 of population is Urban
• Geographically isolated
• Resource poor
• Economic power in Pacific Rim, but during 1990s
  economy took serious downturn
• Hope for future belongs in Korea (especially if
  united) and Siberia because of natural resources
• Historically havent gotten along with others and
  treated conquered nations badly during WWII
• Russo-Japanese War of 1905
• Population expected to start declining in 2007

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NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA

• Population 70 million
• Long history of division and being conquered by
  both Chinese and Japanese
• At end of WWII, divided into two zones resulting
  in Korean War (1950-1953)
• Economically dependent upon each other
• North Korea has natural resources South needs
• South Korea grows food North needs
• South Korea currently worlds largest ship
  building nation
• Economic downturn in Japan in 1990s led to some
  problems in South Korea
• Government very strict after Korean War so
  democracy slow to come to South Korea

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NORTH KOREA TODAY

• North Korea communist
• Leader is Kim Jong-il
• Current standoff between North and South Korea
  and between North Korea and US
• China trying to diplomatically bring peace, but
  not working really well
• North Korea has nuclear arsenal

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SOUTH EAST ASIA

• Mainland and Insular Regions

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GENERALIZATIONS

• Consists of mainland and insular regions
• Has been shatter belt between powerful
  adversaries
• Fractured cultural and political geography
• High relief, volcanic activity , earthquakes,
  tropical climates
• Legacies of foreign influences still felt
• Insular SE Asia population growing faster than
  mainland
• Mekong river starts in China and flows through 5
  countries sustaining farmers, fishing and boat
  owners
• Indonesia, most populous country but has not
  reached potential

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POPULATION GEOGRAPHY

• Of SE Asias 546 million people, over half (303
  million or 55) live on islands of Indonesia and
  Philippines leaves mainland with only 45 of
  total population
• Limited immigration because of physical geography
• Ethnically similar but cultural differences have
  emerged through time
• Hindu, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity all
  present
• Real division between rural/urban society
• Minorities in each country from surrounding
  countries

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EVOLUTION OF POLITICAL MAP

• Dutch, French, British and Spanish (then America
  after Spanish-American War) major European
  colonizers
• Created zones to control but problem came after
  independence
• France becomes Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
• Britain develops into Burma (now Myanmar) and
  Malaysia
• America develops Philippines
• Dutch developed Indonesia
• Outcome very similar to what happened in Africa

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MAINLAND SE ASIA

• Vietnam
• Vietnam War 1954-1974 based on Domino Theory
• Most today dont remember War, 60 or population
  under 21 years of age
• Currently united under Communist North
• Recently seen foreign investment, privatization
  of industry especially in Saigon (South Vietnam)
  and some saw North and South growing apart again
• Cambodia
• French colony, primarily Hindu
• 1975 overthrown by Khmer Rouge who destroyed
  economy and country
• Vietnam invaded in 1970s after Khmer Rouge
  creating major refugees into Thailand
• 1998 Pol Pot committed suicide and many hoping
  Cambodia will turn around, but it is dependent on
  political stability which seems hard to find

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MAINLAND SE ASIA, cont.

• Laos
• Interior and isolated, Surrounded by 5 nations
  who all stronger
• 5.5 million people, no railroads, few paved
  roads, only 17 urban
• Thailand
• 63.1 million people, constitutional monarchy and
  attempts to move more towards democracy thwarted
• During 1990s Thailand grew rapidly, but in 1997
  currency fell and became first casualty in
  economic probs of late 1990s
• Buddhism primary religion and tourism leading
  source of revenue
• AIDS infects 1 million of 60 million population
• Myanmar
• When British left, ruled by military dictatorship
  destroyed political and economic stability
• Today one of poorest nations in world, leading
  exporter in Opium Trade, high unemployment,
  limited industrial growth

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INSULAR SE ASIA

• Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor,
  Philippines
• Malaysia
• 24.2 million people, predominantly Muslim
• Economic growth occurring but existence of many
  minorities creating cultural problems
• Singapore
• 1965 seceded from Malaysia and became ministate
• 4.1 million people, 240 square miles
• Modern, wealthy, one of worlds largest high tech
  producers
• As long as world considers Singapore safe and not
  corrupt will continue to expand and grow

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INSULAR SE ASIA, cont.

• Indonesia
• Largest archipelago in world 17,000 islands and
  219 million people
• Controls 5 major islands, some of whom want
  independence
• Economic stability kept dictator in power, but
  affected by economic downturn that hit Pacific
  Rim, late 1990s
• East Timor
• Formerly part of Indonesia but in 1999 voted for
  Independence and currently working for it
• Philippines
• Primarily Christian with some Islamic influence
• Mix of Mongoloid, Malay, Arab, Chinese, Japanese,
  Spanish and American created unique Pilipino
  culture
• During 1990s economic growth occurred despite
  volcano eruption, Islamic insurgents and
  territory dispute
• If keeps economically stable, this
  lower-middle-income country will improve and
  become powerful in emerging Pacific Rim