PopulationCulture China as of World Population Population China

Population/Culture

China as % of World Population

Population China: 51% rural Japan 25% rural

Population Density

Spread of Religions to Asia Indonesia: Muslim Person must carry a religion ID card. Ø Largest Islamic nation, spread from India during the 11 th century Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Burma: Buddhist Philippines: Christian (Portuguese Explorers) China: Buddhist Pagodas: tiered tower with multiple eaves. Usually Buddhist/religious function.

China & Isolation 中華人民共和國 • Ancient Chinese: saw themselves as the center of the world, self sufficient & technologically advanced. • Foreigners inferior & did not pursue links with the outside world. • Censorship of political speech & information: routinely used to silence criticism of government & the Chinese Communist Party. • Civil rights violations common • China limited western influences. – Banning, threatening to ban TV shows that are deemed inappropriate

Government & Economics

Economics • ASEAN: developed 1967 – Goals: peace & stability, economy, right to be free from external interference • Asian/Economic Tigers : have experienced major economic growth (S. Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore) • Jakota Triangle (Japan, S Korea, Taiwan) high pop. density, urbanization, rapid growth in manufacturing, problems traced back to WWII • SEZ: Special Economic Zones (Southern coast of China) areas w/o taxes & regulations to attract foreign businesses.

Economics • Vietnam & Laos: Communist moving toward market economy, poor, agricultural. Improved relations between Vietnam & US. • Japan: Wealthy, imports raw materials (size) and paid for these with exports. • Thailand: economy improving, trade improving • China: 2 nd largest economy, Coastal regions most industrialized. Trade surplus with US, US placed protective tariffs in the early 2000’s.

COUNTRY GOVERNMENT ECONOMY China Communist Command North Korea Autocratic Dictatorship Command South Korea Republic Free Market Myanmar (Burma) Parliamentary Republic Socialist Japan Constitutional Monarchy Free Market

Physical Geography

Arable land in China

Pacific “Ring of Fire”

Indochina • Indochina: region between India & China…many volcanoes, earthquakes. • Maritime SE Asia

Three Gorges Dam • To control dangerous flooding on Chang River, control river traffic, hydroelectric power. • 1 -2 million people displaced, ecosystems destroyed due flooding of reservoir.

Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge – Japan longest suspension bridge in the world

Pollution Concerns in China Impact of technology /industrialization in agriculture: Pro: More food produced Con: severe pollution 1979 China passed EPA (Environmental Protection Law) Not enforced Water Pollution is one of the most serious threats facing China: approx 300 million Chinese are drinking unsafe water.

The Polluted Yellow River!

Special Focus Regions

Tibet & The Dalai Lama (14 th) • Tibet: Himalayan plateau • DL’s ruled Tibet 1640 s - 1950 s. • 13 th DL proclaimed independence : 913. • China did not accept independence. (subordinate) • DL (14 th) exiled, living in India. • Tibetans: human rights violations by Chinese.

North & South Korea • Kim Jong i. L: Supreme leader, communist, harsh, kept Korea isolated. • Kim Jong Un: son, supreme leader at his fathers death in December 2011 • Attempted to launch a rocket last week, failed…burst apart after liftoff. • Goal was to demonstrate their power.

Taiwan • Chiang Kai-shek, moved gov’t to Taiwan (Chinese territory). • Claim: Taiwan is separate from China. • Conflict between these two groups (PRC & ROC) still exists today. 24

Hong Kong & Macao “One Country Two Systems” • Hong Kong & Macao : “Special Administrative Region” of China • Autonomous • • HONG KONG: UK territory from 1842 -1997. Cosmopolitan & Highly Developed. One of most densely pop regions in world. MACAO: Former Portuguese territory Returned to China: 1999