East Asia

Figure 10.1 will be on Week 1 Map Quiz

Indetifying the Boundaries

  • East Asia is a large expanse of territory with China as its largest country.

    • Mongolia, North & South Korea, and Japan are China’s neighbors.

    • Taiwan is off the eastern coast of China and has been an independent government that has been seperated from mainland China since the end of WWII

    • Southern coast of China is Hong Kong — form British possession

      • under the agreement of autonomy, Hong Kong and its port were turned over to the Chinese government in 1997

    • West of Hong Kong is Macau — former Portuguese colony

    • Western China is the autonomous region of Tibet, Xizang ( Chinese Name )

      • controlled by Communist China since 1949 shortly after the People’s Republic of China was declared a country

      • Tibetan independence has not been successful

      • recently become more integrated with the country of China due to immigration of Chinese people to the region

  • Japan has emerged as the economic dragon of East Asia.

    • have a high standard of living

    • been an industrial and financial engine for the Pacific Rim ( coastal lands bordering the Pacific Ocean )

  • Economic Tigers — quickly emerging economic centers in Asia which includes:

    • South Korea

    • Taiwan

    • Hong Kong

    • Singapore

  • balancing out the advantages of the economic tigers and Japan is the extensive labor base of the Chinese people which catapulted the Chinese economy to its position as a major player in the global economy.

  • North Korea — isolated iteself behind an authoritarian dictatorship since World War II

  • countries that were former enemies in WWII are now trading partners like China and Japan

    • cultural and political differences between these countries still remain

  • East Asia is home to one-fifth of the human population

  • Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan creates an industrial environment that has awakened the human entrepreneurial spirit of the realm.

    • manufacturing has fueled the high-tech engines of the Pacific Rim economies which have recently taken advantage of the massive labor pool of the Chinese heartland.

  • across the Pacific from East Asia are the superpower of the US and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners — both competing against and trading with the East Asian Community (EAC)

    • Russian realm to the north of East Asia — port of Vladivostok continues to actively engage the East Asian nations.

10.1 Introducing the Realm

Physical Geography

  • surrounded by a series of mountain ranges in the west

    • Russia in the north

    • Southeast Asia to the south

    • Himalayas border Tibet and Nepal

      • among the highest mountain ranges in the world and Mt. Everest is the planet’s tallest peak

    • Karakoram Ranges, Pamirs, and the Tian Shan Mountains shadow Central Asia

    • Altay Mountains next to Russia

  • dry arid conditions of type B climates dominate western China

    • desert conditions rises to a large uninhabitable region in its center

  • many mountains ranges are home to earthquakes and tremors

    • Indian tectonic plate is still pushing northward into the Eurasian plate forcing the Himalayan rangers upward

  • the Tibetan Plateau is the largest plateau region of the world with high elevations of fifteen thousand feet

    • sparsely populated and the only places with human habitation are the river valleys

    • Lhasa is the largest city of the sparsely populated region

    • sometimes called “the Roof of the World”

    • small amount of rain that occurs often comes in the form of hailstorms mixed with wind

    • landscape generally rocky and barren

  • vast arid regions extend into the Gobi Desert between Mongolia and China

    • colder type D climates dominate Mogoalian steppe and northern China

  • eastern coast of Asia is home to islands and peninsulas

    • Taiwan

      • produces warmer tropical type A climate

    • Japan

      • prone to earthquakes

      • type C climate is dominant in Japan but the north has a colder type D climate

    • North and South Korea

      • North Korea type D climates are similar tothe northern tier of the United States ( North Dakota )

  • most of China’s population lives in its eastern region called China Proper

    • type C climates

    • fresh water

    • good soils

    • dense population clusters that correspond to the areas of type C climates that extend south from Shanghai to Hong Kong

    • to the south temperatures are warmer, with hot and humid summers and dry and warm winters

  • North China Plain at the mouth of the Yellow River (Huang He River) has rich farmland and is the most densly populated region in China

  • Northwest of Beijing is Inner Mongolia at the Gobi Desert

    • arid type B climates dominate all the way to the southern half of Mongolia

    • northern half is colder with continental type D climates

    • higher elevations of the highlands in western Mongolia is type H highland climates

    • climate and location indentify Mongolia as a landlock country in the Northern latitudes with low level of precipitation

      • areas of type D climate extend north from Beijing through Northeast China at times receive more precipitation than northern Mongolia

  • North of the Great Wall and encompassing Inner Mongolia is the Mongolian Steppe

    • broad flat grasslands that extend north into the highlands

  • North China includes:

    • Yellow River Basin

      • superb agricultural lands

      • loess — extremely fine silt or windblown soil that is yellow

    • municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin

    • Deciduous forests

    • Great Wall of China

  • Most of western China is arid with type B climate

    • has large regions like Takla Makan Desert which is uninhabited because of hot summers and long cold winters

    • Uyghur language, the name Takla Makan means “You will go in but you will not go out”

  • Far west are high mountains bordering Central Asia that restrict travel and trade

  • Northwestern China is mountainous with glaciers, deserts, and basins

  • Central China Proper is subtropical

    • includes the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang River)

    • Shanghai

    • Chongqing

    • climates are warm and humid in the summers with mild winters

    • monsoons create summery rainy seasons

  • Tropical China is extreme south and includes Hainan Island with small islands neighboring it

    • temperatures are higher than in subtropical and rainfall amounts brought by the summer monsoons are very substantial

    • low mountains and hills

River Basins of China

Major River Systems in Central China

  • Yellow River (Huang He)

    • named for light-colored silt

    • flows from Tibetan highlands to Yellow Sea

    • supports extensive agriculture via

      • dams

      • irrigation

    • common crops include:

      • wheat

      • sorghum

      • corn

      • soybeans

      • vegetables

      • fruit

      • tobacco in smaller plots

    • North China Plain has high population density (1,000 people/sq mile)

    • typically does not produce food surplus due to high demand

    • Beijing borders the plain; Tianjin is the nearest port and economic center

    • key industrial crop is cotton

  • Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)

    • flows from Tibetan Plateau through Sichuan and Three Gorges into East China Sea

    • extensive rice and wheat farming in this region

    • Major cities include

      • Wuhan

      • Chongqing

      • Nanjing

      • Shanghai

    • home to the Three Gorges Dam, world’s largest dam which provides significant electricity

    • navigation for oceangoing ships to Wuhan and Chongqing via locks

    • vital transportation corridor for goods between urban centers

    • Sichuan is a top province by population, reliant on the Yangtze River

  • Northeast China (formerly Manchuria)

    • two river basins:

      • lower Liao River Basin

      • Songhua River Basin

    • industrial centers:

      • Harbin

      • Shenyang

    • known as Northeast China Plain with extensive farming and industrial activities

    • significant mineral wealth and iron ore deposits — leading to environmental pollution

    • once the main steel production area; now a rustbelt due to shifts in manufacturing

  • Southernmost Region (Pearl River Basin)

    • important agricultural and commerical district

    • includes rivers:

      • Xi River

      • Pearl River

      • tributaries

    • third-longest river system; second-highest water flow volume

    • major cities:

      • Guangzhou

      • Macau

      • Hong Kong

      • Shenzhen

    • former colonial histories

      • Macau — Portuguese

      • Hong Kong — British

    • hubs for international trade and commerce

    • Cantonese heritage significantly influences local culture

Three Gorges Dam ( The New China Dam )

  • located on the Yangtze River

    • third longest river globally ( after Nile and Amazon )

  • largest hydroelectric production system in the world

    • controls flooding along the Yangtze River

    • produce hydroelectric power

    • increase shipping capacity on the river

  • concept dates back to the period after the last dynasty fell

  • plans and development initiated in the decades leading up to 1994

  • construction of the dam began in 1994

Information on Dam

Dam length

7,661 feet

Dam height

610 feet

Dam width ( at base )

377 feet

Physical construction began

December 14, 1994

Construction cost

est. 39 billion USD

Estimated surface area of reservoir

403 square miles

Estimated length of reservoir

375 miles

Capacity

32 generators totaling 22,500 MW (equal to about 20 nuclear power plants the size of the Watts Bar 1 — newest US nuclear reactor )

  • flooding along the Yangtze resulted in thousands of deaths and billions in damage

  • 1954 flood caused:

    • over 33,000 deaths

    • displaced 18 million people

    • City of Wuhan flooded for 3 months

  • 1998 flood caused:

    • billions in damage and flooded thousands of acres of farmland

    • 1,526 deaths and displaced over 2.3 million people

  • in 2009, the dam was tested during a massive flood

    • successfully contained excess water and controlled downstream flow

    • saved many lives and prevent billions in potential damages

    • projected savings in lives and economic damages to exceed construction cost within a few decades

  • dam supplies most electricity for the lower Yangtze Basin, including Shanghai

    • after 5 years of operation, covered about 1/3 of construction costs ( equal to burning 150 million tons of coal )

    • reduces emissions of

      • CO2

      • sulfur

      • nitrogen oxides

    • aids air quality and climate change mitigation

  • high freight traffic on the Yangtze existed before the dam’s construction

    • increased frieght traffic capacity along the river

  • positive attributes of the Three Gorges Dam have fueled China’s economic development

    • nation’s engineering and technological capabilities

  • by 2008, 1.24 million people forced to relocate dur to reservoir flooding

    • historic villages and hundreds of archaeological sites submerged

    • thousands of farmers relocated to areas with less productive soil

    • compensation for relocation often lost to corruption and fraud

    • scenic beauty of the river basin largely submerged

    • critically endangered Siberian Cranes lost winter habitat

    • Yangtze River Dolphin is facing extinction due to dam impacts and increased river activity

  • Dam restricts flushing of water pollution

    • increased risk of landslides long the banks

    • potential for silting in the reservoir and clogging of turbines

    • situated on a fault zone, raising concern about earthquakes triggered by the reservoir’s weight

  • large development projects have significant impacts on local people and environment.

  • The Three Gorges Dam has sparked controversy with strong arguments on both sides

  • Additional large dam projects proposed or underway along the Yangtze River complicate the situation.

Chinese Dynasties and Colonialism

  • Earliest dynasty dates to around 2200 BCE in North China Plain

    • established political systems and facilitated the transfer of power, ideas, and culture across generations

    • The Han Dynasty ( 206 - 220 BCE ) defined Chinese identity ; became known as Han Chinese

    • The Qin (Manchu) Dynasty ruled from 1644 - 1911, claiming control over China, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and Korea

    • Dynastic rule in China ended in 1911

  • European colonialism emerged during the Qing Dynasty

    • China been industrialized long before European powers with advanced concepts in clean water, transportation, and technology

    • paper, gunpowder, and printing were developed in China centuries before reach Europe

    • Silk Road served as the main trade link between China and Europe

  • European powers faced strong resistance in China and were initally kept at bay

    • Industrial Revolution in Europe provided an advantage in mass production over Chinese goods

    • British exported opium from South Asia to China causing social problems and weakening Chinese culture

  • First Opium War (1839 - 1842) resulted in British dominance and control over central China

    • European powers sought territoral gains like

      • Portugal acquired Macau

      • Germany took control of parts of the North China Plain

      • France claimed regions in southern China and Southeast Asia

      • Russia claimed northern section of China

      • Japan controlled Korea and Taiwan

  • European powers often conflicted with each other while claiming parts of China

    • China lacked military weapons compared to Europe hindering defense against invasions

    • Chinese culture which thrived for thousands of years, faced erosion from foreign intrusion

    • Boxer Rebellion around 1900 marked organized resistance against foreign influence

  • Qing Dynasty dissolved in 1911 signaling the end of dynastic rule

    • european colonialism persisted in various forms within China

Three-Way Split in China

  • European colonialism in China slowed after 1911 revolution

    • WW1 weakened European powers

    • Japanese colonizers continued to advance in China easily resupplying their troops

  • Dr. Sun Yat-Sen advocated for an independent Chinese Republic free from dynastic, Japanese, and European control

    • nationalist and communist worked towards establishing the republic

    • Dr. Sun Yat-Sen died in 1925

  • Nationalist, led by Chiang Kai-shek, defeated the Communists and formed a national government

    • foreigners were expelled, and the Communists were marginalized politcally

  • a three-way conflict ensued among Nationalists, Communists, and Japanese forces

    • Japan occupied parts of Northeast China (Manchuria) and advanced among the eastern coast

    • Nationalists pushed Communists into rural areas while Chinese citizens supported cooperation to defeat Japan

    • The Long March (1934) was a 6000 mile retreat by Communist pursued by Nationalists aided by rural populations

  • Japan’s defeat in 1945 by the US ended its control over territories in China, Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific

    • by 1948, well-organized Communists began defeating Nationalists

    • Chiang Kai-shek fled to Formosa (Taiwan) with supporters and treasures declaring it the Republic of China

    • Communist established control over mainland China leading Mao Zedong to declare the People’s Republic of China in 1949, with Beijing as its capital

  • Japan was devasted by US bombing during WWII, losing colonies and facing a lengthy rebuilding process

    • Korea was liberated from Chinese dynasties and Japanese Colonialism but experienced internal divisions

    • political structures in East Asia changed significantly in the latter half of the 20th century compared to the beginning of the century

10.2 Emerging China

The Emergence of Modern China

  • China is the world’s largest Communist country

    • isolated from Europeans and Central Asians by the Himalayas and other mountain ranges

    • rich in history, culture, and traditions that have endured for thousands of years

    • land size similar to the US but slightly smaller; has only an eastern coast

    • heavily populated regions correlate with climate types

  • Mao Zedong’s communism differed from the Soviet Union

    • various communist experiments led to disastrous outcomes

  • Great Leap forward (1958):

    • communes established ; peasants worked the land

    • citizens donated pots and pans for scrap metal production

    • intended to boost industrial ouput but resulted in mass starvation

  • Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966 - 1976)

    • purged traditional culture and promoted total loyalty to the Communist Party

    • indocrinated students reported dissenters; schools closed, intellectuals persecuted

    • est. 30 million lives lost due to purges, starvation and conflict

  • travel into and out of China restricted during early Communist decades

    • US supported Chiang Kai-shek in Taiwan and did not recognize Communist China

    • China lagged behind in industralization while the west advanced technologically

    • Nixon’s 1972 visited open diplomatic relations, countering Soviet influence

  • the Chinese Communist Party implemented a “planned economy” or command economy

    • government controls all economic aspects, including production, distribution, and pricing

    • businesses are nationalized

  • the 1980s marked a shift towards a more market-oriented economy

    • economic collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s coincided with China’s opening to trade

    • in 1992, China announced a transition to a socialist market economy, combining elements of both systems

    • focus on increasing national wealth and improving citizens’ quality of life

  • rapid economic growth in the following decade

    • by the early 200s, China ranked among the top 5 largest trading nations

    • despite economic growth, most of the population does not have a high standard of living

Political Units

  • China can be divided based on various criteria: political, economic, natural, and climatic regions

  • the People’s Republic of China (PRC) consists of:

    • Twenty-Two Provinces — including the island province of Hainan

    • Taiwan — considered the twenty-third province by China but governed by the Republic of China

    • Five Autonomous Regions — Tibet, Guangxi, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia; each designated for a specific minority group

    • Four Municipalities — Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing which gave governance structures similar to provinces

    • Two Special Administrative Regions (SARs): Hong Kong and Macau, which have considerable autonomy

  • designed as a compromise for regions desiring indepedence with large ethnic minority populations

    • limited legal ability to self-govern, they have less autonomy than provinces

  • directly controlled cities with governance similar to provinces

    • encompass large geographic areas beyond city limits, including towns and rural areas

  • Special Administrative Regions (SARs)

    • Hong Kong

      • formerly a British colony, governance reverted to China in 1997

      • operates under “one country, two systems” arrangment

    • Macau

      • similar governance structure and autonomy as Hong Kong

      • both regions have autonomy for at least 50 years post-transfer

  • China handles defense and some foreign affairs for the SARs

    • Hong Kong and Macau manage most internal matters

      • legal systems

      • law enforcement

      • immigration

      • custom policies

  • China’s Communist government is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party

    • considered an authoritarian state complete with heavy restrictions on the Internet, press, freedom of assembly, reproductive rights, and freedom of religion

    • economic trade with the West has created more openness with travel and business which begun to challenge or erode the hard-line politics of decades past

The People

Population

  • China has a rich cultural heritage spanning four thousand years

    • as of 2010, China had approx. 1.33 billion people, the largest population in the world

    • most of the population resides in China Proper, particularly in the eastern regions, which have the best agricultural lands and moderate climates

  • China has over one billion more people than the US

    • during Mao’s era, there was little concern about population growth ; recent decades have seen increased focus on managing it

  • One-Child Policy

    • implemented in 1978 to control population growth and address environmental, economic, and social issues

    • limits families to one child, with certain exemptions for rural couples and ethnic minorities

    • Peripheral regions like Macau and Hong Kong are exempt from the policy

    • policy has reportedly reducted the potential population by hundreds of millions but has faced implementation challenges

    • concerns about negative societal effects, including female infanticide and increased abortions

    • approx. 75% of the population supports the one-child policy, according to independent surveys

    • families faced economic pressures to comply with the policy, losing government benefits if they have more than one child

    • enforcement is variable , provincial authorities managing implementation

    • preference for male children has led to a significant gender imbalance

      • created cultural challenges, particularly with a surplus of unmarried men and insufficient marriage opportunities

  • over 50% of China’s population lives in rural areas, leading to potential high levels of rural-to urban migration

    • core industrial cities attract migrants in a periphery-to-core migration pattern

    • urbanization rose from 17% in 1978 to 47% in 2010, marking one of the largest rural-to-urban shifts in history

    • many workers alternate between temporary urban jobs and returning to their rural families

Ethnic Groups

Ethnic Groups in China

  • Han Chinese are the largest ethnic groups, making up about 90% of the population

    • Significant minority groups include:

      • Zhuang (Tai) in the south

      • Manchu in the northeast

      • Mongolian in the north-central region

      • Uyghur in Western China

      • Tibetan in Tibet

    • over 290 languages are spoken, corresponding roughly to the number of ethnic groups

  • Uyghur and Other Minorities

    • in Western China, predominantly Muslim and constitute a large portion of the population

    • other Muslim ethnic groups include Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and Tajiks

    • estimates in Muslims in China vary, goverment reports about 21 million while other sources estimate up to three times that number

    • Uyghurs and other minorities often face discrimination and marginalization from the Chinese government

  • China is officially atheist with no religion endorsed by the government

    • before Communism, Buddhism was widely practiced along with Taoism and Confucian teachings

    • Christianity exists but practicing it is illegal, Christian population estimates to be 3-4% (39-52 million people )

  • Falun Gong — group blending elements of Buddhism and Taoism, emerged in the 1990s and claims to be more of a science than a religion

    • Chinese government banned Falun Gong in 1999 following a large protest resulting in arrests and harsh penalties

    • remains officially prohibited in China

Economic Summary

  • shift from a closed centrally planned economy to a more open, market-oriented economy over the past two decades

    • increase involvement in private enterprise and international investment

  • agricultural and economic reforms phased out collective farms, boosting agricultural production

    • opened up free enterprise and international trade

    • rapid economic growth in urban areas

  • global intergration enhanced engagement with global community, improving information and communication technology

    • increased computer and internet use

    • created more job opportunites

  • Special Economic Zone ( SEZs) promoted urban and economic growth especially in coastal cities

    • contributed to rural-to-urban population shifts

  • negative consequences of growth included:

    • Resources exploitation leading to soil erosion and air pollution

    • decline of water tables due to high demand on water supply

    • loss of arable land due to erosion and poor land-use practices

    • rural areas receive fewer resources compared to coastal cities, leaving many in poverty

    • high unemployment among migrant workers

    • goverment issues included:

      • corruption in government and state-run offices

      • authoritarian state, free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of press

      • no minimum wage law, factory workers worked long hours without benefits

        • fewer safety requirements and government regulations for security in workplaces

  • China aims for a blend of authoritarian efficiency and market-driven capitalism

    • possesses the largest standing army, positioning itself as a global superpower

    • potential for cultural conflict with the US over economic, political, and human issues

    • emphasis on the need for mutual understanding between the US and China to foster cooperation

Growth of Enterprise and Industry

  • following Mao Zedong’s death, Deng Xiaoping recognized the need for economic change

    • aimed to open China’s economy while preserving the Communist system

    • Bamboo Curtain limitation on the movement of goods and people began to diminish

  • SEZs set up along the coast in strategic port cities to attract international business

    • international corps were drawn to China due to cheap manufacturing costs

    • China’s large population provided both a labor pool and a consumer market

  • modernization efforts led to increased world trade and a significant rise in US - China trade

  • expanded manufacturing capacity resulted in signifcant profits for China around 2002

    • coastal cities and SEZs became core industrial centers, attracting many poor agricultural workers

    • factory jobs became sought-after employment opportunites

  • unprecendented urban growth as people move to cities for work, mirroring global trends

    • SEZs encouraged multinational corps to relocate to China for lower costs

  • objectives of SEZs include

    • tax incentives for foreign companies

    • focus on exporting market-driven manufactured products

    • joint partnerships

  • four main cities and Hainan Island province designated as SEZs and development areas for industrial expansion

  • in 2006, China president urged a focus on innovative economic activities

    • increased funding for research in genetics, computer software, semiconductors, and alternative energy technologies

  • growing demand for energy spurred expansion into wind and solar power for domestic and commerical use

  • China’s industrial sector aimed to compete globally

  • challenged established high-tech economies in Japan, Western Europe and US

Geopolitics

  • China’s politcial environment is closely linked to its geography

    • large land area with core region (China Proper) primarily populated by Han Chinese

    • surrounding periphery includes

      • autonomous regions

      • minority populations (Tibet and Inner Mongolia)

  • Tibet serves as a buffer between China and India with high mountains providing natural barriers

    • Nepal, Bhutan, and Kashmir also acts as buffers of South Asia

    • Inner Mongolia and Mongolia buffers China from Russia — actual border is remote

    • Northeast China (Manchuria) is home to the non-Han Manchu population

    • North Korea serves as a buffer against US influence via South Korea

    • Southeast Asia’s mountainous terrain limits access

  • Coastal China is accessible and historically targeted by foreign powers

    • Taiwan poses a geopolitcal challenge with its independent goverment

    • the coastal region is considered China’s most vulnerable area

  • SEZs attracts foreign corps to coastal cities and facilitate economic growth and ties with global marketplace

    • extensive coastal development benefits all parties

  • China operates under three main premises

    • secure a buffer zone in peripheral regions

    • maintain unity within the Han Chinese majority

    • protect the vulnerable coastal region from outside influence

  • disparities in living standards have emerged between wealthy coastal cities and poorer rural areas

    • factory workers earn more than agricultural workers , challenging the distribution of wealth

    • shift to a more open capitalist economy raises questions about equality

  • China relies heavily on export manufactoring for wealth

    • insufficient agricultural resources to support its vast population necessitate strong international relations

  • the eastern coast has yielded economic gains

    • disappearance of the Bamboo Curtain marks China’s integration into the global economy

    • economic development has increased dependence on foreign resources, technology and markets

    • multinational corps rely on China for low-cost manufactured goods, enhancing China’s global economic integration

10.3 China’s Periphery

Hong Kong and Shenzhen

  • Hong Kong is a former British colony located southern of China’s coast and consists of several islands

    • feat. Victoria — one of Asia’s best deepwater ports protected from the sea

  • new territories leased from China by Britian in 1897 for 99 years , borders rapidly growing Shenzhen

    • Hong Kong served as a major entry point for British expansion into China

    • trade relationship disrupted during the Korean War (1950s) as Britain and China sided with opposing forces

  • closed border with China led Hong Kong’s business community to utilize its port to establish a world trade center

    • ships import raw material for processing and manufactoring

  • Hong Kong focused on low-level goods using cheap labor

    • progressed to higher-value goods like electronics to boost incomes and transform into a global business center

  • strong financial network emerged and enhanced the free market system

    • Deng Xiaoping viewed Hong Kong as a crucial access point for trade and commerce with China

  • in the 1990s, Hong Kong facilitated about ¼ of China’s imports and exports

    • 1997 handover agreement allowed Hong Kong to remain non-Communist with autonomy for 50 years

  • Shenzhen became a rapidly growing SEZ capitalizing on Hong Kong

    • population soared from 350,000 in the 1980s to over 10 million by 2010

    • major manufactoring hub, producing goods for companies like Walmart

  • over 95% of Hong Kong’s 7 million residents are ethnically Chinese, valuing their unique economic and political status

    • major financial and banking center in Asia — offers private banking services for Chinese citizens

    • high real estate prices , limited land

  • Hong Kong attracts millions of tourist annually as a gateway to southern China

    • known for shopping and a safe modern environment

    • Cantonese is the official language with widespread English use

  • Macau follows a similar agreement with China as Hong Kong, automonous for 50 years

    • smaller territory than Hong Kong with about half a million residents

Taiwan (ROC)

  • Taiwan is separated from mainland China by the Taiwan Strait

    • compared in size to Maryland, have a population of 22 million in 2010

    • island is mountainous with rugged national parks; most people live in coastal cities

  • Taiwan emphasizes education and technical skills, resulting in high incomes and a developed economy

  • after WWII, the US severed trade with communist China but maintained trade with Taiwan

    • tensions between China and Taiwan root in Taiwan’s complex history and the “One Child” Policy

  • in 1972, US president Nixon visited China to strengthen ties against Soviet Union

    • US moved its embassy from Taipei to Beijing, acknowledging Beijing as the official Chinese government

    • US officials and Taiwan’s diplomats face restrictions on official visits due to the One China Policy

  • to have relations with China, countries can’t recognize Taiwan

    • UN shifted recognition to Beijing in 1971, ending Taiwan’s representation in the UN

    • Taiwan’s global status remains ambiguous

  • in 2000, Taiwan announced intensions to seek international recognition and possible independence

    • China responded with threats and military exercises

    • US has historically supported Taiwan including with military aid

  • Taiwan evolved from textile to high-tech industries, achieving a high-standard of living

    • Taiwanese industries shifted production to China’s SEZs due to lower labor cost, increasing unemployment in Taiwan

    • Taiwan’s recent focus has been on trade rather than independence

  • in 2008, Taiwan elected a government committed to strengthening economic ties with China

    • Taiwan joined WTO in 2001 as “Chinese Taipei” facilitating cross-strait trade

    • despite unresolved political tensions, Taiwan competes in global events including Olympics as Chinese Taipei

Autonomous Region of Tibet

  • Tibet is located in mountainous southwestern China

    • one of China’s autonomous regions though it has limited self-governance

    • historically, was an independent Buddhist theocracy with the Dalai Lama as the head of state and religous leader

  • an independent kingdom with its own form of Buddhism and a system of Lamaism

    • during the 13th century, became a part of the Mongol Empire

    • 15th century, the Dalai Lama gained significant authority

  • Tibet fell under Qing control but after China’s imperial period ended in 1911 Tibet sought independence

    • China’s intentions to control all of Tibet were met with resistance from Tibetans

  • in 1949, China allowed the Dalai Lama control over domestic affairs but gradually reduced his power

    • the Chinese government destroyed monasteries, religious symbols, and suppressed Buddhism which Tibetans perceived as an invasion

  • Tibetans revolted in 1956 with US support, but China crushed the revolt in 1959 leaving thousands dead or imprisoned

    • the Dalai Lama and thousands of Tibetans fled to India, establishing a governement in exile

  • in the 1980s, China proposed leniency if the Dalai Lama renounced independence claims which he refused

    • tensions escalated after the controversial death of the Panchen Lama and disputes over selecting his successor

  • during the 2008 olympics, a peaceful Tibetan protest led by monks turned violent, pormpting a harsh crackdown by Chinese authorities

    • global attention on China’s human rights violations against Tibet was limited during the Olympics

  • Tibet’s population is about 3 million, mostly mountains valleys with Lhasa as its capital

    • China has relocated thousands of Chinese people to Tibet, altering the ethnic balance and a rail line now links Beijing to Lhasa

  • China see Tibet as a buffer state between India and China’s heartland

    • Tibet’s mountains hold natural resources critical to supporting China’s manufactoring economy for global exports.

    • China seeks economic integration of Tibet despite cultural differences

Who is the Dalai Lama

  • The Dalai Lama is both the spiritual and political leader of all Tibetans

    • considered the reincarnation of past Buddhist Masters or Tulkus

    • believes to be reborn by choice to guide humanity

  • traditionally serves as the head of state for Tibet with Lhasa as the capital

    • Tenzin Gyatso is the current, 14th Dalai Lama

      • believed to be reincarnated

  • Tenzin Gyatso became the 14th Dalai Lama on November 17, 1950 at the age of 15, shortly after China’s invasion of Tibet

    • under Chinese military pressure he initially ratified the 1951 Seventeen Point Agreement

  • in 1959, the Dalai Lama fled Tibet and went into exile in India following China’s crackdown on Tibet resistance

    • while in India, established the Tibetan government in exile, striving to preserve Tibetan culture for the refugees who joined him

Mongolia

  • Mongolia is the world’s 19th largest country by land area and 2nd largest landlocked country after Kazakhstan

    • with a land area similiar to Alaska or Iran, it is least populated globally with about 3 million people

    • Mongolia’s landscape includes mountains, high plains, and grassy steppe with limited annual precipitation , mostly snow

    • The Gobi Desert, stretching from southern Mongolia to northern China, recieves less precipitation

  • Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s modern capital, houses about 1/3 of the country’s population and is the coldest world capital on average

    • historically known for the Mongol Empire, established by Genghis Khan in the 13th century

    • 20th century, the Soviet Union used Mongolia as a buffer state with China and Communist influence remained strong until the Soviet collapse

  • Tibetan Buddhism is practiced by about 50% of Mongolians; around 40% indentify as nonreligous due to the Soviet influence

    • most Mongolians are of Mongol ethnicity, 30% remain seminomadic living in mobile yurts and migrating seasonally for livestock grazing

    • Mongolia’s cultural heritage is rooted in rural agrarian traditions, with popular sports like archery, wrestling, and equestrian events

  • Mongolia’s economy has traditionally focused on agriculture but now relies heavily on mining like coal, molybdenum, copper, gold, tin, and tungsten

    • being landlocked limits Mongolia’s access to the global economy but mineral reserves are in demand by industrial areas offering potential for economic growth

    • China has become a significant trading partner, drawing Mongolia’s trade focus from its former ally, Russia, and expanding its business presence in Mongolia

10.4 Japan and Korea (North and South)

Japan

  • Japan is an archipelago along the Pacific Rim, east of China and across from the Korean Peninsula with over 3000 islands

    • four main islands make up most of Japan

      • Shikoku

      • Kyushu

      • Hokkaido

      • Honshu

    • land area is about the size of the US state of Montana, with mountainous terrain from volcanic activity

    • many volcanos remain active including Mount Fuji

    • Japan spans two climate zones

      • Majority has a temperate climate (type C)

      • northern Hokkaido has colder climate (type D)

  • Tokyo is the world’s largest verified metropolitan area with a population of about 26.7 million located on the Kanto Plain including Yokohama and Kawasaki

    • second-largest urban area, the Kansai District includes

      • Kobe

      • Osaka

      • Kyoto

    • Japan’s population was approx. 126 million in 2010 with 67% living in urbanized coastal areas from Tokyo to Nagasaki

  • Japan’s tectonic location, at the convergence of the Eurasian, Phillipine, and Pacific Plates makes it highly prone to earthquakes

    • Significant earthquakes include

      • 1923: Tokyo-area, killed around 143,000 people

      • 1995: Kobe, killed about 5,500 people and injured 26,000

      • 2011: 9.0 earthquake off northern Japan’s coast cause severed destruction on Honshu and triggered a tsunami over 130 feet high

  • the 2011 disaster resulted in 15,500 deaths, widespread damage, and missing persons

    • tsunami damaged coastal nuclear power plants, leading to meltdowns in three reactors and releasing nuclear material — marking the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl

    • remains at high risk for future earthquakes due to its tectonic activity

Japan’s Development

  • Japan was historically ruled by Shogun lords and Samurai with a highly organized and structured society

    • Japan’s mountainous terrain led to semiurban coastal community, limiting the rural-to-urban shift

  • encounters with EU ships in the colonial era encouraged Japan to consider industrialization to protect its sovereignty

    • Japan saw similarities between its island geography and Britain’s and aspired to develop a comparable level of power

    • The Meiji Restoration (1868) marked Japan’s industrialization, inspired by British infrastructure and industrial methods

    • Japan’s early industrial growth utilized limited domestic resources and drew on its skilled artisans and organized society

  • Japan expanded to secure resources, taking control of Taiwan (Formosa) Korea, parts of Sakhalin Island and Manchuria in the late 1800s and early 1900s

    • Japanese industries grew by using resources from these colonies and putting local populations to work

  • by WWII, Japan had become a dominant Pacific Rim power, even aspiring to invade North America

    • Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 marked the start of hostilities with the US

    • Japan surrendered following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945

  • Japan’s surrender required relinquishing territories including Taiwan, Korea, China, and the Kurile Islands

    • The Kurile Islands, taken by the Soviet Union, remain in dispute with Russia declining to return them despite Japanese offers

    • Japan agreed to forgo an offensive military, and WWII left its infrastructure and economy in ruins

Japan’s Economic Growth

  • since 1945, Japan has transformed into Asia’s economic superpower, becoming a key center in global economy

    • Japan’s manufacturing — automotive, sets global standards with brands like

      • Toyota

      • Honda

      • Mitsubishi

      • Nissan

    • Surpassing other “economic tigers” (Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea), Japan is often called the “economic dragon” of Asia

  • Japan’s rapid post-war recovery is attributed to its pre-existing industrial and urbanized society

    • US support in rebuilding Japan’s ports and transportation systems aided recovery, but Japan’s internal organization and cohesion were key to its economic revival

    • created strong manufacturing sectors, leading to financial success and competition with the US

  • like Japan, post-WWII Germany’s industrialization and urban society helped it recover and become EU strongest economy

    • both nations redirected their economies into manufacturing, capitalizing on automotive industries (Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMV)

  • Japan’s loss of colonies post-WWII forced it to establish extensive trade networks for raw materials

    • manufacturing boom expanded urban areas around Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kawasaki to support industrial growth

  • Japan’s location and cohesive culture contributed to its technological and economic advancement

    • similiar to economic tigers like Taiwan and Hong Kong, Japan thrived with limited natural resources by leveraging trade and manufacturing

    • focused on value-added manufacturing profits, using peripheral countries for labor and resources, especially during the colonial era

Modern Japan

  • Japan is a homogeneous country with 99% of its population being ethnically Japanese (as of 2010)

    • resembles a nation-state, united by common heritage, government, language, and culture and a strong centripetal force

    • religious include Shintoism (focused on ancestor veneration and nature) and Buddhism (meditative practices)

    • Shinto and Buddhist traditions coexist with different rituals such as Shinto weddings and Buddhist funerals

  • Japan’s family size is low, averaging 1.2 children per family which is leading to a decline and aging population

    • not enough young people to fill entry-level jobs, creating labor shortages

    • relunctant to rely on immigration, unlike Western EU and US, to address the workforce gap

  • high incomes and urban lifestyles have shifted young people toward consumer-oriented living, high cost of living — Tokyo

    • imports all of its oil and about 60% of its food, making certain items (beef and out-of-season fruit) expensive

  • Japan’s labor shortage has led to outsourcing manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor like China

    • Japan and China’s economic relationship is complex due to historical animosities but contiues due to economic interdependence

    • Japan’s economic influence in the East Asian Community (EAC) is significant as it competes with core economies (US and EU) for low-cost labor and resources

  • despite historical tensions with neighboring countries, Japan’s economic needs drive it to engage in trade, especiall with China

    • Japan remains a core economic power globally, leveraging its economic status to maintain trade and influence within East Asia and beyond

Korea

  • The Korean Peninsula extends into the Pacific Rim bounded by the Sea of Japan (East Sea) and Yellow Sea

    • North and South Korea share the peninsula, divided by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) since 1953

    • Borders China and the north (seperated by Yalu and Tumen rivers) and Russia along the northern coast

    • Japan lies across the Korean Strait to the east

  • The peninsula is 70% mountainous with volcanic and granitic bedrock shaped by glacial processes

    • Divided into four general regions:

      • Western Region: coastal plains, river basins, and small foothils

      • Eastern Region: high mountain ranges with narrow coastal plains

      • Southeastern Basin

      • Southeastern Region: characterized by mountains and valleys

    • around 3000 small islands off the southern and western coasts belong to South Korea

  • North Korea

    • low industrialization

    • severe water pollution

    • deforestation

    • soil erosion

    • limited clean drinking water

    • prevalent waterborne diseases

  • South Korea

    • high industrializaiton

    • water pollution from industrial discharge

    • severe urban air pollution

    • acid rain

  • korea was a unified kingdom for centuries, frequently invaded by foreign powers

    • controlled by Japan as a colony from 1910 until Japan’s defeat in 1945 ending colonial rule

  • after WWII, the peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel

    • North Korea: controlled by Soviet Union, leading to a communist government

    • South Korea: administerd by the US, developing a capitalist government

  • Korean War (1950 - 1953): North Korea, aided by China and the Soviet Union invaded the south

    • peace agreement in 1953 established the DMZ along the 38th parralel

    • DMZ remains the most heavily guarded border in the world with US troops stationed along the cease-fire line

North Korea

  • North Korea (DPRK) was established under Communist dictator Kim Il Sung, combining Soviet and Chinese authoritarian principles

    • regime restricts personal freedoms, populace is mobilized to rebuild the state

    • Kim Il Sung utilized the threat of US military invasion to rally support building a military of over 1 million soldiers

    • strict regulations prevent citizens from traveling in or out of the country

  • the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in the loss of financial support and oil supplies, leading to factory closures and rising unemployment

    • China began to engage with the West, losing interest in supporting North Korea

    • country faced severe food shortages, resulting in famine and thousands of deaths

    • Kim Il Sung died in 1994, leaving a legacy of deification as the “Great Leader”

  • Kim Jong Il succeeded Kim Il Sung as leader, intensifying repression against the populace

    • media in North Korea is controlled by the governement, can only access government-sanctioned television and radio frequencies

    • tourist entry is high restricted, with only few hundred allowed annually under close supervision

  • Kim Jong Il had developed nuclear capabilities using military production as leverage in international relations

    • North Korea promotes a narrative of the US as a constant threat, using propaganda to instill fear and prepare citizens for potential invasion

    • state ideology emphasizes the unifcation of Korea under Communist rule, supported by military, economic, and political policies

  • North Korea’s mountainous terrian limits quality farmland, only 2% land is dedicated to permanent crops, yet 1/3 of the population works in agriculture

    • best farmland is located south of the capital, Pyongyang which is restricted for the most loyal citizens

  • the country suffers from severe shortages of goods and services with unreliable electricity supply

    • international food aid is crucial for survival despite Kim Jong Il’s policy of self-reliance (Juche), which isolates the population and maintains his power

    • Juche also prevents the influx of corporate capitalism, aiming to keep external influences at bay

  • smuggled cellphones and SK VHS tapes provide North Koreans glimpse of the outside world

    • government agents conduct home searches to confiscate smuggled material, punishing citizens found with them

    • many North Koreans have escaped to northern China in search of better opportunities, despite China’s own human rights issues

    • contrast between China’s growing economy and North Korea’s stagnant state drives migration patterns

South Korea

  • 1993, South Korea became a fully-fledged democracy with its first democratically elected president

    • Seoul is the capital city, population of almost 10 million people

    • Seoul is located just south of the Cease-Fire Line (DMZ) often referred to as the 38th parallel — does not exactly follow that line

      • US has numerous military installations there

  • South Korea manufactures automobiles, electronics, and textiles for global markets

    • country employs state capitalism to develop its economy

    • manufacturing sector transformed into a major center for export trade

  • after WWII, South Korea was ruled by a military government that implemented land reform and received external economic aid

  • large agricultural estates were redistrbuted, leading to increased agricultural production to meet population demands

    • has significantly higher agricultural production than North Korea, which helps feed its dense population

  • 50 million residents of South Korea enjoy a much high standard of living compared to those in North Korea

    • personal income in North Korea is very low, while in South Korea its comparable to that of Western countries

  • economic growth in South Korea is driven by state-controlled capitalism rather than free-enterprise capitalism

    • state controls or owns most industrial operations and sells products in the global marketplace

    • major corps like Daewoo, Samsung, Kia Motors, Hyundai, and the Orion Group have promoted South Korea as a leading shipbuilding nations

    • continues to reform its economic system to adapt to global economic conditions as an “economic tiger”

  • South Korea plans a comprehensive overhaul of its energy and transportation networks

    • government funding will support the creation of green-based initiatives

    • efforts will focus on reducing energy dependency throuh environmentally friendly developments like wind and solar power, bike lanes, and new lighting tech

    • high-speed rail service and increased capacity in electronic transmission lines are planned to enhance energy efficiency

    • policies aim to modernize South Korea’s economy and create new products for manufacturing export

  • Buddhism and various aspects of Chinese culture have significantly influenced Korean heritage

    • Buddhism has been prominent religion in Korea for centuries; Confucian teachings are also widely respected

    • approx. 30% of the population identifies as Christian (20% Protestant, 10% Catholic), the highest percentage of any Asian country

    • up to 50% of the population does not profess any organzied religion

    • before 1948, Pyongyang was a notable Christian center with around 300,000 Christians

      • following the establishment of a Communist government in North Korea, many Christians fled to South Korea to escape persecution

Unification of North and South

  • regional complementarity refers to the benefits that arise when two seperate regions possess qualities that work well together if unified

    • North and South Korea exempts this

  • North Korea

    • mountainous terrian

    • rich in natural resources such as minerals, coal, iron ore, and nitrates (fertilizers)

  • South Korea

    • abundant farmland capable of producing large harvests of rice and other food crops

    • possess industrial technology and capital for development

  • if unified, North and South Korea could function effectively as an economic unit due to their complementary resources and capabilities

  • US Military Presence

    • presence of 35,000 to 40,000 US soldiers along the DMZ raises questions about security and sovereignty

    • some South Korean youth advocate for the withdrawal of US forces and for unification while older generation who experienced the Korean War support maintaining the US military presence

  • unification is unlikely until the older generation either passes away or reaches a consensus on unification

  • the dictatorship of Kim Jong Il and North Korea’s claimed nuclear capabilities are significant obstacles to unification

    • division is primarily political rather than cultural, despite the current societal differences

  • situation in Korea is analogous to East and West Germany during the Cold war

    • while there are differences between Korea and Germany, unification may be possible under specific conditions particularly with a change in leadership in North Korea