World Regional Geography

Fall 2004

Chapter 5: East Asia

 

Eastern Asia has emerged as the world's largest population and most concentrated economic region. With 1/3 of the planet's population living on approximately 1/10 of the world's land area, food availability, ethnic and border issues are of paramount significance. The dominant political power of the region is the People's Republic of China, Japan remains the dominant economic power of the region.  Population densities are the world’s highest and lowest

 

History- from 1945 (remember the modern era here was initiated by Japanese invasion and then economic growth.)

 

§         Japan- defeated in war (Asian resentment and hatred for wartime atrocities)

§         Korea- decades of Japanese occupation, then Korean War in 1950's

§         China- Nationalist and communist factions at war- interrupted by WWII and continued until Nationalists retreat to Taiwan.

 

Economic Growth and Failure

 

Economics: "East Asian Miracle" 1980-90's. Japan is the second richest country. 

Asian Tigers: South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore. 

Little Tigers: Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. 

 

China had highest economic growth rates in the world from 1980-90.  By 1997, the miracle failed. 

Failure linked to:

§         High levels of foreign lending

§         Government budget deficits

§         Loans to glutted property markets

§         Slower economic growth

§         Subsequent currency devaluation

§         Less (almost none) Japanese and US aid.

 

Cultural/Political

 

Chinese, Koreans and Japanese share cultural characteristics (Asian Way)-

§         Buddhism

§         Chinese Script

§         Family life/Kinship

§         Communal Organization

 

Asian Way-

§         Confucian Ideas

§         Hierarchy of relationships (define work and cultural roles and customs)

§         Respect for age and social position

§         Concept of "Face"

§         Business transaction are based on relationship

 

I. China

 

A land of enduring traditions

1. Confucius (administrator) – hierarchical system that emphasized proper social relations and conduct.

2. Daoism (a return to small village life and values) – teachings of Laozi.  Ant-Confucius, based upon harmony and balance for the self and community.

3. Chin dynasty (after which modern China is named)

4. Buddhism followed Silk Road into China from Southern Asia- 100 AD.  Zen Buddhism arrives in Japan in 1200's.  Tibet (600 AD)- Lamaistic Buddhism

5. Technological innovations first developed and used in China include:

a. gun powder

b. the cross bow

c. printing and paper

d. the clock

e. the compass

6. Chinese civilization based in Huang He (Yellow River) 2,000 BC

7. Qin Dynasty (Ch'in) around 220 BC- built Great Wall

8. The Mongol (1200s) conquest established China as world trade center. After Mongol period, China returned to an isolationist posture. Kublai Khan established 1,000 caravansaries from his capitol to the borders of the Islamic Empire in Southwest Asia in order to facilitate trade with Europe.

9. Ming Dynasty- (1368- 1644) -revolt against the Mongols.  Naval power (1400s) takes China to India, Persian Gulf, East Africa and Madagascar.

10. Manchu Dynasty (1644- 1911)- Furthest expansion of Chinese area.  1820 China is world's wealthiest empire.

 

Foundation of Buddhism

 

Check out internet enlightenment:

http://buddhanet.net/

http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/ews430/buddhism1.html

Buddhism in Austin:

http://www.austinzencenter.org/

Hill Country Buddhism:

http://www.austinzencenter.org/bpf/index.html

Buddhism in the West

http://www.thechurchforall.org/BuddhismintheWest.htm

 

Four Noble Truths of Buddhism

1.      Life involves suffering

2.      The cause of suffering is desire

3.      Elimination of desire ends suffering

4.      Desire can be eliminated by right thinking and behavior (Eightfold Path)

 

Eightfold Path- “Right-“

1.      Views

2.      Intention

3.      Speech

4.      Action

5.      Livelihood

6.      Effort

7.      Mindedness

8.      Contemplation

 

Divided into the 3 Cornerstones of Buddhism:

1.      Morality

2.      Wisdom

3.      Samahdi (Concentration)

 

Atman- the self, the soul- no lasting unity of the “self”- life is a stream of renewed existences

Karma- person’s acts and their ethical consequences- Natural moral law judgment

Nirvana- enlightened state where the person is released from greed, hatred and ignorance.

 

China has turbulent geopolitical history

1. China is prone to attack any power seen as threatening its national security or immediate borders.

2. In 1860, Russian annexed large tracts of Chinese territory in Central Asia, Siberia and the Far East (Amur-Ussari River region). Rivalry between Russia and China continues to this day.

3. Opium Wars (1840s and 60s), Britain's 1997 return of Hong Kong to China, Boxer War 1899 (Fists of Righteous Harmony).

4. Japanese annexed Manchuria.

5. Chinese Civil War 1926-1948:

a. Nationalist defeat by communists 1948.

b. Nationalist Army evacuation by the United States to island of Formosa and creation of Taiwan (Republic of China).

6. Chinese conflict and expansionism in:

a. The Western Himalayas (1962 war against India)

History: http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/1962war.htm

b. Vietnam (1979)

c. Tibet (1949-50) What they think in Tibet: http://www.phayul.com/

d. Korea (U.S. 1951-53)

e. USSR, China's Far East border regions in 1969

 

Chinese formal population policy based on:

1. One child only.

2. Necessary to achieve economic growth by reducing the demand on resources by slowing population growth rates.

3. Formal policies are not popular or rigidly enforced in largely Moslem northwest.

4. China is still a largely rural society with enduring rural values and traditions.

5. Large families are almost an economic necessity in rural China.

6. Family planning largely an urban focused effort.

7. Eighty percent live on small farms or rural villages.

8. China's largest geographical regions, Sinkiang and Tibet contain less than 4% of the country's total population.

 

Chinese Cities

1. Shanghai is the largest city and chief port and economic center.

2. Beijing is the second largest city and political center.

3. Tianjin is an industrial and technology center.

4. Shanghai: main port, financial center

Problems in Beijing- centralized control (being reformed) related to rising unemployment, rural unrest, funding shortages and tax issues.  Other issues include a switch to a market economy (limited), social unrest, connectivity to the world, crime and corruption

Growth of private industry- from zero to 40% of Chinese industrial output.

Beijing- 11 million

Shanghai- 13 million

Tianjin- 9 million

2015- China will have over 100 cities with 1 million plus population

 

Rising urban populations as people leave countryside to city jobs.

 

China-United States relations

1. In 1996, China was the fourth largest export market for U.S. goods and services.

2. Chinese human rights abuse and the United States' most favored nation trade status (Tiananmen Square 1989) debate by Congress are intertwined.

3. Mao-Nixon and the Shanghai Communiqué tipping the Cold War Asian balance of power away from the USSR in favor of the United States.

4. Intellectual property and China copyright abuse remain significant trade barrier issues.

 

China (Things to remember):

 

§         Shanghai: main port, financial center, automobile manufacturing and main growth area

§         5 cities in China are among the 10 most polluted in the world

§         92% of people in China are Han Chinese

§         China is reaching maximum agricultural productivity on its lands

§         Northern China has most arable land (64% of the 10% of total arable land) with only 20% of the water

§         State owned corporations are a major problem for economic growth

§         Chinese only use 5% of the plastics compared to Americans

§         Manchuria: Northeast China

§         Weather like New England

§         Was independent in the 40's

§         An area of heavy industry and agriculture

§         One of China's most productive areas

 

Natural environment (Entire Area)

1. China is arid, semi-arid and topographically rugged. Only 10% of the country is arable.

2. 95% of China's population reside in the more humid and arable eastern regions.

3. East coast midlatitude climate (warm, humid summers w/ cold winter) Southern China has monsoon climate- summer rains and winter drought.)  East coast of China is like that of US.  (compare population density)

4. Western China- arid/semiarid climates at great altitude

5. Mountains- Himalayas (1/3 of region) border India and Nepal- form the Tibetan plateau.  Mount Everest is 29,000 feet w/ 50 peaks over 25,000 feet.

6. Main rivers of China- Huang He (Yellow River), Chang Jiang (Yangtze) and Xi Jiang (West River)

7. Vegetation- Monsoonal Forest (east) to deciduous/evergreen to grasslands to desert.

8. Resources- good soils, water and minerals (coal, oil, gas, iron, gold, precious stones)

9. Agriculture- rice based (enables high population densities)

10. Water- China moving water from South to North - 50 year/ $50 billion project

A Chinese web site that is very interesting:

http://www.chinapage.com/water/resource.html

http://www.china.org.cn/english/1477.htm (site has many other good articles)

 

Environmental Problems

1.      Monsoon and Earthquakes - main threat to humans

2.      River damning and deforestation - human impact

3.      AIDs- growing threat in China

4.      Pollution- serious problem 5 Chinese cities are among top 10 most polluted in world.  Water pollution around urban areas is bad.

5.      Japan- Air quality (“Oxygen Booths” like telephone booths) and trash (no room for landfills)

 

Globalization and East Asia

  • East Asian countries at top of world GDP
  • Japan and China- economic leaders of this century
  • China, South Korea and Taiwan- 3 main emerging markets for US goods.
  • Tokyo- in top 3 world cities (financial and technology capital- #2)
  • Japan- huge capital surpluses w/ 8 of the 10 largest world banks
  • Multinationals- Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Sony, Sharp, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Matsushita, Hyundai, Samsung, Daewoo and Lucky Goldstar.  These represent some of the biggest companies in the world.  Exert a great deal of influence on international economy.
  • Tourism- East Asians have wealth and major airline hubs- their travel is increasing.  Japanese travel the entire world (stand in line at Disneyland and you will see many Japanese and Chinese tour groups.)  Japanese stores in Paris- block away from the Louvre, cater to tourists and only speak Japanese.  Many young Japanese roam the world as backpacker tourists.

 

Globalization and China

  • From 1980-2000- fastest sustained economic growth
  • Population 1.3 billion
  • Direct foreign investment in China- 4th in world (after US, Germany and UK)
  • College graduate, computer engineers- paid 1/10 of salary made by Taiwanese or Japanese counterparts.
  • Investment in China- from Chinese in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other Chinese abroad (such as US and Australia)
  • China graduates 1 million engineers each year
  • China and tourism- 4th largest center (after France, US and Spain)
  • Neighbors fear Chinese political, cultural and economic dominance
  • Chinese economy:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/china/part1.html

  • Chinese Automobile Industry

http://thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=7212

http://www.chinasite.com/Lifestyle/Automobile.html

 

II.Japan

 

History

1.      Meiji restoration of the 1860's was Japan's point of departure from a feudal to a modern industrialized nation.

2.      After the defeat of Russia in 1903, Japan emerged as a world power in the twentieth century. Also took Taiwan and Korea.

3.      What Japan failed to achieve in Word War II in East Asia, they have achieved through technological innovation and trade since 1960.

4.      US occupation from 1945 to 1952 w/ continuing military presence

5.      Today Japan is the dominant economic power of Asia.

6.      Japan is still a traditional society and not fully westernized.

7.      In 1900 the most popular spectator sport in Japan was American style baseball.

8.      In contrast to twentieth-century China, Japan has openly embraced western technology and trade.

 

Ethnicity and Culture

 

Ethnic groups: Very homogeneous ethnic group.  One percent of population is foreign: Ainu (Hokkaido Island), Burakumin (Honshu Island)- oppressed minority emancipated in 1871) and foreigners (75% Korean.)   To make up for shortage of workers Japan has encouraged foreign born Japanese to move to Japan.  Many come from Peru and Brazil.

 

During the past 100 years Japan moved from a rural to urban country (80% urban.)

Total population- 127 million

Infant mortality- world’s lowest

Life expectancy- world’s highest (81 years)

 

Changes in the demographic and family structure: 

  • Aging population
  • Smaller nuclear families
  • Suburban, not rural settlement
  • Less care of elderly by eldest sons
  • Households increasing with average per household decreasing (4.5 to 3)
  • Aging population means higher social costs (pensions, health care, leisure, etc.)

 

Web Sites on Japan

Here’s a wonderful site on Japanese culture (you must read this to get an insider’s view):

http://www.zo..mpist.com/japancult.html

 

Be Japanese.  Go to Virtual Japanese culture:

Web Japan: http://web-japan.org/

Fantastic web site (even for kids)- You can’t get enough Hello Kitty:

http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/culture.html

 

Virtual Sushi party (too much time on their hands):

http://www.asahi-jc.com/sushi.htm

 

Learn Engrish (the bad way to speak English) (very funny) (some crude language):

http://www.engrish.com/

 

Regional Geography

 

Islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu

 

1. Japan is about the size of California, with a population of 127 million.

2. Climate ranges from the long cold winters of Hokkaido, to tropical Kyushu.

3. Honshu is the largest and most populated of Japanese islands. The Kanto plain includes Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan's largest industrial and population complex.

4. Geopolitical conflicts with Russia

a. The Russian return of Sakhalin Island and Kurils is essential to Japanese development of Western Siberian oil and gas fields. Russia lacks investment capital, Japan imports almost 100% of energy resource needs. Imports 70% of oil.

b. Return of Okinawa (by US) to full Japanese sovereignty will remain a national issue.

5. People

a. Japan's low population growth rate typical of developed states.

b. Japan has reduced labor force and concern for future economic development.

c. An urban people with a residual rural tradition.

d. The socio-economic affluence of Japanese people one of the highest in the world- highest in Asia.

e. Minorities (Japan is not an overly tolerant society) include:

1. Ainu (Bear people of Hokkaido) the original inhabitants of the Japanese island system.

2. Burakumin (outcasts) on Honshu.

3. Koreans.

6. Economic development

a. Japan produces 14% of the world's industrial output (United States produces around 25%).

b. The United States 2nd largest trade deficit is with Japan, due mainly to automobile related imports.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/trade/2003-02-20-trade_x.htm

c. The Kanto plain (Honshu) is the single most intensively developed area in Japan.

d. Manufacturing continues as the economic mainstay of the Japanese economy.

1. Information technology and telecommunications are now receiving top priority in public-private investment partnerships.

2. Heavy industry facing stiffer competition from such newly industrializing countries as South Korea, Taiwan, India, China and Brazil.

3. Includes older industries such as steel, petrochemicals and cement.

4. World’s highest use of industrial robots. (4 times that of US)

5. Heavy investment in Southeast Asia

6. Huge trade deficit with China.

e. Japan is historically a heavy investor in United States treasury notes, bonds, real estate, and vehicle manufacturing plants.

f. Historically Japan does not do well in manufacturing large complicated systems. They rely heavily on U.S. aerospace and "war bird" technology (Boeing 747's, MD F-18, etc.). They are, however, unequaled in producing high quality small, intricate, low-failure-rate electronic products.

g. The world-renowned Japanese system of quality control was first developed in the United States.

h. Wealthiest country in Asia and 2nd in world

i. Economy in 1990s- slowed and fell to 50% of US total GDP

j. Corporate culture- Traditional culture, loyalty to Emperor, family and company.  Workers get jobs throughout life with health care and social support.

 

Read this article on Japanese economy:

http://www.indiana.edu/~japan/digest8.html (old)

 

and this for overview of economic development:

http://www.indiana.edu/~japan/digest15.html (new)

 

Japan: Geographic distribution (Know the Main Islands!!!)

 

§         4 main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu (main island), Shikoku and Kyushu

§         Hokkaido- 20% land w/ 5% of population.  Farming, dairy, fishing, forestry and coal.  Tourism. Sapporo- 5th largest city

§         Honshu- Island broken into 3 parts- Northern Central, and Southern (Coastal movement with difficulty crossing central mountains) 

§         Northern- rice district. Agriculture and fishing.  Economic decline

§         Central Honshu (Kanto- Tokyo region) 1/3 of population.  The cities of Tokyo (financial), Kawasaki (heavy industry) and Yokohama (port) combine to form an urban area of 27 million people.  Autos are made on Pacific side of Honshu

§         Tokyo-Okaido form "Tokaido" a megalopolis like "Boswash" !!!!!!!!!!!!

§         Kanto- 31% of population, produces 37% GDP on 10% land  !!!!!!!!!!

§         Tokyo Bay- Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama

§         Chubu region- contains Mount Fuji- Japan’s highest peak and a “spiritual’ place

§         Imports oil for 70% of energy needs

§         Southern- 2nd most prosperous region. Osaka and the Kansai region.  Includes Kyoto (old capital) Osaka (11 million- 2nd largest city) and Kobe.  The Japanese rust belt

§         Shikoku- mountainous small island. 

§         Kyushu- connected to Honshu by tunnel.  Western island- entry point of Asian culture Buddhism, Christianity and trade.)  Industrial area.

§         Ryuku Islands- includes Okinawa (US base.) Stretch southward towards Taiwan.

§         Kuril Islands:

http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/7012-8.cfm

http://vlad.tribnet.com/1998/ISS166/text/sakh3.html

http://www.documentary.com/ngm/9610/depart/c041.html

 

Tokyo- 26 million people- World’s second largest financial center (Between New York and London)

 

III. South and North Korea

 

  1. North and South- Independent Republics created in 1948.  North invaded South in 1950.
  2. Issues- North Korean nuclear capabilities.
  3. North Korean famine:
    1. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/august97/korea_8-26.html
  4. Famine and Nuclear brinkmanship are connected !!!!!!!
  5. Urban population (south- 80% out of 50 million)
  6. Northwest area is main industrial near Seoul- within artillery range of North Korea
  7. South Korea- world’s main manufacturer of computer chips and large ships. Also iron, steel, and textiles
  8. Automaker – 5th largest
  9. Economy- 11th largest

 

A. South Korean economic success largely tied to aid and trade status with the United States.

§         Chaebol: (huge corporate conglomerates)  The big 3 are 100 businesses, with 80% of their revenue coming from 20% of the companies with only 1-2% making a profit

§         Fiscal irresponsibility with great political power and family connections

§         1997 collapse was one of reasons for Asian market crisis

 

Korea and the United States:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/08/15/international0114EDT0406.DTL

Human Rights Watch and Landmines in Korea:

http://hrw.org/doc/?t=asia&c=skorea

Cheju Island “Massacre”- (think about this and consider this in terms of Iraq or Afghanistan- historical context about things that can go wrong.)

http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/DB/issues/97/04.09/view.yuk.html

 

North Korea

 

A. Aggressive, continues to excite and badger South Korea and the United States.

B. Large-scale United States military assets have been deployed to counter potential invasion threats by North Korea.

C. A net food importer with periodic failure of national food production and distribution system.

D. The economic future of North Korea seems to include greater poverty.

E. Political repression of the masses continues unabated.

 

Even the North Koreans have a web site:

http://www.korea-dpr.com/

http://www.kimsoft.com/dprk.htm

Nuclear and other Weapons:

http://fas.org/nuke/guide/dprk/

North Korea’s Prison Camps:

http://ncafe.com/northkorea/

The Free North Korea web site:

http://www.freenorthkorea.net/

 

IV. China, Mongolia and Taiwan

 

China is world’s most populous country and 3rd largest in area

 

Quick overview of modern Chinese history:

Mao Zedong (leader of communist revolution)

·        Central Planning period (1949-1959) – collectivization and the commune

·        Great Leap Forward (1959-1962)- industrialization

·        Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)- Little Red Book, Red Guard, destruction of management practices and persecution of the educated classes

·        Deng Xiaoping (1976-) Mao’s successor

 

A great movie about the life of a Chinese family through this time:

To Live (1994) by Zhang Yimou

http://www.celtoslavica.de/chiaroscuro/films/huozhe/huozhe.html

            You can check this movie out of the Temple City Library.

 

Ethnicity

Han Chinese- 92% of Chinese population

Minority groups live along the Russian, Mongolian and western borders.

Tibetans- main group in far west.  China took over Tibet in 1950 with a rebellion in 1959 that was brutally repressed.    The Dalai lama (leader of Tibetan Buddhism was forced to flee Tibet)

Government of Tibet in Exile:  http://www.tibet.com

Tibet News: http://www.phayul.com/

Xinjiang Province- Central Asia, East Turkestan.  Han Chinese were resettled here to counter the local Uighars.  Chinese corridor into Central Asia.

 

Population

Growth rates are under 1%

2070- Chinese population under 500 million

Younger age groups have more men than woman- product of one child policy and resulting killing of many girl babies

Social problem- caring for the elderly as China’s population ages

Urbanization and society- As more people move to cites, traditional family relationships are broken with no one to care for elderly or very young.

 

Overseas Chinese- 100,000 Chinese in the US (3rd language of US.)  Huge international smuggling rings to ship Chinese people into US, Russia, Japan, Europe and other places.  Over 40 million Chinese in Taiwan and Southeast Asia.  Dominate the private sector in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore.  Only 3.5 % of Indonesian population but own 75% of companies.

 

Consider Chinese economic growth:

Newspapers:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2332053.stm

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/chingrow.htm

Why is China Growing so Fast?

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/issues8/

US and China

http://web.nps.navy.mil/~relooney/3040_477.htm

 

Energy- Ranks 3rd in the world for producing energy.  First in coal, fifth in oil and 6th in hydroelectricity.  Use coal to produce power.

Steel- China is world leader.

 

Regions of China

 

West and south - mountain ranges (Himalayas)

East- Coastal regions (like US East Coast- very important)

North- East Coast climate (like New England and Canada)

Interior- plateaus with Gobi desert.  Transition from fertile river valleys to forests, grasslands to desert.

 


Figure 5.32 Page 211

 

Know these Regions:

·        Coastal-  area of river basins

·        Interior (behind coastal)

·        Deep Interior Regions

 

Hong Kong, which reverted back to Chinese ownership in 1997, is the largest financial center in Southeast Asia. Hong Kong's port is one of the busiest in the world.

1. Chinese re-exports through Hong Kong are an important source of trade.

2. Hong Kong is the third largest gold market in the world.

 

Mongolia

A. Long dominated by the former Soviet Union as a buffer state against Chinese expansionist aims in inner Asia.

B. Modern Mongolia does not include inner Mongolia, which remains a part of China.

C. Outer and Inner Mongolia- geographic terms coined during the Manchu dynasty's occupation of the region.

D. A geopoliticaly strategic nation with little resources or long-term development potential.

E. Western influence as Russia changed its culture-  uses the Cyrillic script, not Chinese characters.

F. Few resources- does have gold.

 

Taiwan

  • Founded by Kuomintang in 1949 after defeated by communists
  • Half of Taiwanese people support reunification with China if Hong Kong works out..
  • One of world’s largest trade surpluses and invests in China, US and Thailand.
  • Taipei- capital
  • Growing economic ties to China and had always been closely tied to US.
  • Both Taiwan and South Korea are tied to the United States by mutual security pacts.

 

Fear- Taiwan and Hong Kong share an open, Chinese culture with democratic institutions.  If Hong Kong’s experience is not good, then Taiwan will resist any efforts by mainland China for unification.