East Asia
Recent economic reforms
China: State-owned banking invests in export-oriented manufacturing. Economic decision making is decentralized - responsibility system Competitive marketing was introduced - businesses were allowed to sell goods in competitive markets Regional specialization is encouraged - Regional specialization is specialization rather than self-sufficiency that takes advantage of regional variations in climate, natural resources, and location. Foreign direct investment is allowed. China own 21% of US debt and Japan owns 19% - soft power
Pop density
How does physical geography (see the region map on slide 2) influence population density in this region?
Japan becomes a world leader
1700s: Japan began active trade with Europeans. 1800s: Interest in Western culture grew, and Japan modernized/industrialized. 1895-1945: Japan fueled its economy with resources from its colonial empire. First occupied Korea then Taiwan and then coastal and eastern China. 1945: Japan's imperial ambitions came to an end after defeat in World War II by US. Post 1945: Japan rebuilt its infrastructure and became a leading global economy with global businesses, exporting automobile and electrical goods. Twentieth century: Japan dominated much of East Asia with 1/10 the population and 5% of the land.
Physical geography: Rivers
All three major rivers originate in the western mountains of China and flow in an easterly/southeastern direction. Huang He on the North China Plain Chang Jiang (Yangtze) on the Chang Jiang basin Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) that enters the South China Sea near Macao Jiang means "river."
Vulnerability to climate change
China is particularly vulnerable to drought, desertification, flooding and other hazard that climate change may intensify. Discussion questions: What is one process that can result from people beginning to live or farm in dry environments? What is causing the water table to fall each year on the North China Plain? Flooding is especially likely in what part of China? Why is this the case?
Environment: The Sendai earthquake
Natural hazards and energy vulnerability Many countries in the region along with Japan planned to use nuclear power to reduce GHG emissions. Sendai earthquake and tsunami, 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant was flooded. Meltdown of nuclear reactors resulted Massive radioactive contamination Plans now focus on renewable resources for Japan's energy. Japan remains committed to reducing GHG by installing renewable energy projects.
Geopolitics of the sea
Territorial control of the waters off the coast Kuril Islands pacific ocean (Japan and Russia both claim them.) Senkaku/Diaoyuy Islands (Japan, China, and Taiwan claim them). Competing claims by Japan and China has increased One of the riskiest potential military conflict of East Asia Spratly Islands (China, Taiwan, and SE Asia countries claim them.) United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Territorial waters - waters extending 12 nautical miles Exclusive economic zone - 200 nautical miles from country's shore Territorial waters: waters extending 12 nautical miles (1 nautical mile=1.15 miles or 1.85 kilometers) are part of the country's territory. Nonmilitary foreign ships have the right to pass through these waters. A country can govern its territorial waters much like it does its land. Exclusive economic zone: This is 200 nautical miles out from a country's shore and allows the country exclusive rights to mineral exploitation on the seabed. If no agreement can be reached when the territorial waters and exclusive economic zone overlap with neighboring countries, the United Nations' International Court of Justice can issue a ruling which it has not done in the cases above. Discussion question: What are possible reasons for these different countries to claim islands?
Three Gorges Dam
World's largest dam, on the Chang Jiang with 600 feet high and 1.4 miles wide. Relocating 1.3 million people. Giant sturgeon a fish as rare as giant Panda may be extinct The world bank withdrew the funding because the concerns outweighs the benefits. Moved development into the interior Generates hydropower to reduce GHG emissions Concerns: Located above a seismic fault Weight of water could trigger earthquakes Rising water causes mudslides. Life span of dam shortened by silt buildup
China's turbulent twentieth century
1900-1920: China's government Provincial rulers in rural areas Chinese, Japanese, European administrative agencies in the major cities Two rival political groups The Nationalist party, the Kuomintang (KMT), was urban-based. The Chinese Communist Party was rural supported. 1931: Japan invaded and controlled by 1937. Communists waged guerilla war against the Japanese throughout China, killing millions of Chinese people. 1945: Communists pushed the KMT into exile on Taiwan. 1949: People's Republic of China established with Mao Zedong as president - This is the China as we know today. Central planning Agricultural methods improved Medical care improved Education promoted for males and females alike Overall living standards improved Great Leap Forward: Failed economic reform program (1950s) - The Great Leap Forward was a failed economic reform program under Mao Zedong. It was intended to quickly raise China's industrial level. Cultural Revolution (1966) - The Cultural Revolution was a political movement launched in 1966 to force the entire population of China to support the continuing revolution. Everyone was asked to read the "Little Red Book" of Mao's saying. 1978 Deng Xiaoping: Set up market reforms - The market reforms which began in 1978 led to further economic development so that by 2009, China's economy became the third largest in the world behind the European Union and the United States. The Communist Party remains firmly in control.
Solar power station in Japan
A solar power station in Kawasaki, Japan. East Asia has made large investments in solar power. China and Japan have the second and third largest installed solar power-generating capacity in the world (behind Germany). More renewable power is needed to offset emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Urbanization
Across East Asia, cities have grown rapidly over the last century. Tokyo is the world's largest urban area with 38 million inhabitants. Seoul, Korea is the second largest urban area with 23 million people and fourth largest urban economy in the world. Some cities have become conurbations - Conurbation is an extended urban area consisting of several nearby cities that have grown together over time. China's urban growth is the strongest in the world - 2014, all 40 of of the fastest growing cities based on GDP were in China. Export oriented economy has left the rural areas behind Chinese reforms in 1980s provided for SEZs - first in 5 coastal cities Special economic zones (SEZs) brought in direct foreign investment to build manufacturing plants owned by non-Chinese companies that hired cheap Chinese labor. Growth poles are zones of development whose success draws more investment and migration to a region. The successful growth-poles of the SEZs served as development magnets. Mostly on the eastern coast, accounts for 85% of China's exports China spends 9% of its GDP on transportation improvements Rural−urban disparities in income are typical for China.
Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia
After the end of World War II The United States and Soviet Union agreed to divide former Japanese colony into North Korea and South Korea. The Soviet Union occupied a Communist regime in North Korea and The US, took control of the Southern Korea. United States withdrew its troops in 1940, and then North Korea attacked South Korea which led to a 3-year war against North Korea and its allies, the Soviet Union and Communist China. War ended in truce with formation of the 38th parallel which serves as the de facto border between North Korea and South Korea. North Korea: Communist country Impoverished and cut off from the world Economy based on military armaments Only trading partner is China Suffers from food shortages Taiwan and South Korea emerged after World War II as rapidly industrializing countries. Mongolia retained communist connections with the USSR but is now seeking its own way.
Air Pollution
Air quality in the cities are particularly poor. After South Asia, East Asia ranks worst among the world for air pollution. Coal burning is the major source of air pollution in China, contributing to 47% of all the coal burned in the world. Coal is used in industries as well as homes for heating in winters. American embassy in Beijing in 2008 started monitoring air quality. Air pollution from vehicles is also severe. Public health risks related to air pollution are also severe in bigger cities in other East Asian countries (Tokyo, Taipei, Ulan Bator, and Seoul). Air quality in Taiwan is six times dirtier than that of US and Europe Discussion question: Explain the regional variation in this pollution. What is the cause and what are possible solutions?
Environment
Climate change is intensifying droughts and floods China is the world's largest overall producer of GHG (Still half than US on a per capita basis) Even after recent changes in new technologies it contributes 30% of the world's total. China's vulnerability to glacial melting Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are melting rapidly - which supplies water to two major rivers in China. Water shortages Droughts occur somewhere in China every year. At their worst, droughts cause desertification. Dust storms accompany the droughts. Worst in North China Plain, due to the large production of wheat, corn, and cotton. Flooding Six deadliest floods in the human history took place in China. Slight change in global warming could result in severe flooding. Particularly damaging in urban areas (more than doubled from 2008-2015) Desertification is a set of ecological changes that converts arid lands into deserts. Particulate matter from the dust storms move into the upper atmosphere and circle the entire globe. Even the Three Gorges Dam cannot prevent flooding, although the impact is lessened. Discussion questions: Since the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau provide the meltwater for China's largest rivers, what is the long term impact of the rapid melting?
China did not colonize an overseas empire
During the Ming dynasty, Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim admiral in the navy directed an expedition which could have led to China conquering a vast overseas empire. These expeditions were funded for almost 30 years. Expeditions investigated much of Asia, Southeast Asia and east Africa but no overseas empire was established. The newly explored regions simply lacked what China needed or wanted. China needed to protect against invaders from the north. Suspicion of outside cultures resulted in isolationism. China did expand into areas in Central Asia and Southeast Asia.
Pop & gender
East Asia is the second most populous region. Population growth is slowing because families are choosing to have fewer children. Average age of the population is rising Japan has a negative growth rate. World's longest life expectancy Increasing immigration is an option but immigration is not a popular solution as the Japanese people oppose it. China's support system for the elderly is declining because of rural to urban migration. China's parliament passed a law in 2013 which requires family members to visit and support their elderly relatives. Legacy of China's one-child policy - 1979-2013 From 2015 its two-child policy Care of elders falls to one child Preference for male child Gender imbalance (50 million more men than women) Girls were raised as boys in some families Girls were given up for international adoption Girls infanticide. Discussion questions: What is the impact on an industrialized, first world country when it experiences a negative growth rate? What is the impact on an industrialized, first world country when a large percent of its population is retired or in senior care facilities? What is the impact on a rapidly developing society when men and women reach marriageable age and there are not enough brides? What factors in East Asia are slightly diminishing the age-old preference for sons? What policy change may account for the increase in births on the bottom two bars of the 2016 population pyramid? Did the male preference "problem" end in the last 20 years? Explain. If the projections hold true, China's population will decrease by the year 2050. What are the implications for the country and for the Earth if such a decrease occurs?
Geographic themes
East Asia's environmental problems result from a large population and unsustainable economic growth. East Asia's economic development strategy has transformed economies globally. Three of the countries have high levels of political freedoms; demands for political change in China are increasing. Cities have grown rapidly; China's urbanization is the fastest in the history of the world. Population growth has slowed; populations are aging.
Globalization and development
East Asia's spectacular economic development Governments of first Japan, and then Taiwan and South Korea established state-aided-market-economies with the help US and Europe State-aided market economics is an economic system based on market principles (demand & supply) but with strong government guidance. The economies grew tremendously based on the ideas from Japan. Boosted quality of life for citizens Transformed the global economy Made possible by state-aided market economics Focus was on export-led growth - Japan, Taiwan and South Korea More recently the differences among East Asian countries have reduced with China and Mongolia dropping the strict central planning. North Korea still remains poor and around 70% suffer from food insecurity. State-aided market economics is an economic system based on market principles but with strong government guidance, in contrast to the limited government, free market economic system of the United States and, to a lesser degree, Europe. Export-led growth is an economic development strategy that relies heavily on the production of manufactured good destined for sale abroad.
Power & Politics
Economic development leads people to push for more political freedom. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all have high levels of political freedom. Mongolia is changing too after abolishing communism in 1992. Communist party in China says that China is a democracy. Highest legislative body is appointed by Communist part elite. Demands for political change in China are increasing, especially in urban areas. Party remains determined to repress any major reform movements Tiananmen Square 1989 - More than thousand students and labor leaders massacred by the military. Global pressure is placed on China to improve its environmental conditions. News media is controlled by the government. Information technology is a powerful force for enhancing human rights. Twitter like service known as Weibo - 500 million registered users. Users are required to register with their real names for online account. Words like "democracy", "freedom" or "Human rights" receives - "The title must not contain prohibited language, such as profanity. Please type a different title" Protests are becoming more common in China.
European and Japanese imperialism
Europe's age of exploration included trade for East Asian goods (Silks and Ceramics). Europeans traded Indian opium for Asian goods. The emperor attempted a crackdown on this influence on Chinese society. Opium Wars (1839-1860): Britain defeated China. Hong Kong became a British possession. Japan defeated China in Sino-Japanese War (1895).
Hong Kong's Special Role
Financial hub for China's booming southeastern coast 7.3 million people packed into only 23 square miles. One of the richest city in the world. 2014 GNI - U.S.$56,570. In July 1999 Britain's lease ran out and Hong Kong became a special administrative region (SAR) of China It still operates under political and legal system established by British. More political freedom than China
Physical geography: Landforms
Four principal steps moving from west to east: 1. Mountains: Himalayas formed when Indian subcontinent collided with Eurasian continent; includes Tibetan Plateau 2. Broad arc of basins, plateaus, low mountains: Taklimakan and Gobi Deserts, Mongolia 3. Broad coastal plains and deltas of China's rivers - Starting from south this step is defined by three large lowland river basins; the Zhu Jiang, Chang Jiang and Huang He basin. 4. Continental shelf covered by the water of the Yellow Sea, the east china sea and the south china sea. Numerous islands are anchored in this continental shifts : Hongkong, Hainan and Taiwan Japan's geologic origin: Landmass is volcanic not continental shelf. Formed where the Pacific and Philippine plates dive beneath the Eurasian plate Volcanic Mount Fuji last erupted in 1707 Island chain experiences: Ring of fire Tsunamis: Seismic sea waves Earthquakes (March 2011 tsunami and earthquake) A tsunami is a large sea wave caused by an earthquake
The Japanese Miracle
Japan rose from the "ashes" - except from Kyoto most of the Japan was destroyed after World War II Direct trade agreements with US and Europe. Japan - economic growth of 10% or more annually between 1950 - 1970s Sony, Nikon, Panasonic and Toyota became a household name in US & America Japan promoted the just-in-time system of manufacturing - Just-in-time manufacturing, pioneered by the Japanese, clusters companies that are part of the same production system close together so that they can deliver parts to each other precisely when they are needed. Storage of spare items is eliminated. Japan promoted the kaizen system - The kaizen system promotes continuous improvement so that production lines are constantly adjusted, improved, and surveyed for errors to save time and money and ensure that fewer defective parts are produced
Extent of the Japanese Empire
Japan's expansions, 1875-1942: Japan colonized Korea, Taiwan (then known as Formosa), Manchuria (Northeast China which had resources), parts of Southeast Asia and several Pacific islands to further its program of economic modernization and to fend off European imperialism in the early twentieth century.
Internet use in East Asia, 2015
Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have very high Internet use rates, while China has the most Internet users of any country in the world. Usage in China varies among provinces.
Food security and sustainability
Just over half of the region's territory supports agriculture. China has lost one-fifth of agricultural land since the Communist Revolution of 1949. The region's food security is linked to the global economy. 75% of the food consumed in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan is imported. China is self-sufficient for basic necessities but relies on imports of grain for animal feed and luxury food items. Affluent populations consume more meat and other animal products as compared to previous plant-based diet. Food security occurs when people consistently have access to sufficient amounts of food to maintain a healthy life.
Sociocultural issues: Ethnic minorities
Majority (93%) of Chinese call themselves "people of han" Uygurs (WEE-gurs)and Kazakhs in western China Turkic-speaking Muslims Han Chinese dominate bureaucracy. Resistance movements fear cultural genocide. Tibetans in China Buddhists Temples destroyed by Chinese Secular social/economic modernization destroys ancient cultural practices. Han Chinese settlers Ainu in Japan are racially/culturally distinct thought to have migrated from North Asian steppe. Recognized as indigenous minority in 2008 Overseas Chinese - prosperous urban commercial class The Ainu are an indigenous minority group in Japan, characterized by their light skin, heavy beards, and thick, wavy hair. They are thought to have migrated thousands of year ago from the northern Asian steppes. Overseas Chinese are Chinese emigrants and their descendants, especially those in Southeast
Human patterns over time
Oldest continuous civilization in the world. Gradually eclipsed by European powers in seventeenth century and complete domination by nineteenth century 4000 years ago: Earliest complex civilization in north-central China—feudal aristocracy 221 B.C.E. Qin empire: Trained/salaried bureaucracy and military, land ownership allowed by the poor Confucianism is a Chinese philosophy that teaches the importance of stability and social order based on traditional institutions such as the patriarchal family, community and the state. 479 B.C.E.—Confucianism Closely related to China's bureaucratic ruling tradition Bias toward males and submission by females Bias against merchants After the second world war China, Mongolia and North Korea chose communism and Japan, South Korea and Taiwan chose capitalism.
Rural-to-urban migration in China
Prior to 2014: Most rural-to-urban migration was illegal (hukou system prevailed). Floating population: Migrants who ignored the system No rights to subsidized housing No rights to schooling No rights to health care Migrants worked in menial jobs. System reformed Encourages migration to areas with labor shortages. Migrants can keep rights to farmland back home. Under the hukou (household registration) system in China, each person's permanent residence is registered and any person who wants to migrate must obtain permission from authorities to do so; the system has recently been liberalized.
China's economic system-- post World War II
Private property was abolished. Bare necessities were the norm. China's iron rice bowl: Job for life Sufficient food Basic health care Housing Commune system - small landholders together (1600 households) - Less time for farming, spending time building roads, levees, drainage systems. - Local administrators promised more harvest which led to lack to food. Focus on heavy industry failed Regional self-sufficiency is an economic policy in Communist China that encouraged each region to develop independently in the hope of evening out the wide disparities in the national distribution of production and income—not very successful After the death of Mao Zedong in1976, China instituted market reform based on export-led growth. Foreign direct investment was encouraged so that foreign factories/assembly plants were established along the eastern coast in special economic zones (SEZs). China's cheap labor kept price of products low.
Physical geography: Climate
Two principal contrasting climate zones: The Dry interior: Continental climate prevails Cold winters and hot summers Pole of inaccessibility - Farther away from an ocean than any other region in the world. Grasslands and deserts, only few scattered forests on few well watered mountain slopes. The Monsoon east Cold temperatures of Eurasian landmass make winters cold and the surrounding seas and oceans makes it warm in summer. Warm moist air from oceans (ITCZ) brings summer rains. Korea and Japan have wet climates year-round because of their proximity to the sea. Pole of inaccessibility is the area that is farther away from an ocean than any other place on Earth's surface. Which climates are most likely to support nomadic herding? (Desert and steppe areas of north central and northwest China.) Which climates and respective geographical areas will have winter dry conditions that support agriculture? (Korea, central China, and parts of inland south China.) The greater part of Japan's main island and the eastern lowlands of China experience what climate category? (Midlatitude, moist all year) How might this affect agriculture? Midlatitude, moist all year climate that allows for near year-round agriculture. We would expect these areas to provide more of the countries' food.
Measures of human well-being
Upper left: Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all have high GNI per capita while China and Mongolia have GNI slightly below world average. North Korea's population is poor. Wealth disparities within countries need to be noted. The Human Development Index is very high in South Korea and Japan and high elsewhere. In the case of the Gender Development Index, the values don't align well with the other two maps. None of the countries rank in the highest categories, despite national wealth and ability to meet basic development needs. What is a possible explanation for why no countries rank in the highest category on the GDI?
Food production
Wet rice cultivation: Rice is the most important grain of the region. Requires elaborate systems of irrigation, where crops must be submerged in water early in the growing season. Terracing provides addition land for rice Although extensive forestry and mining has led to loss of most natural habitats. Fisheries and globalization Ocean-caught fish is vital protein source Japan's impact on the global fish supply is profound. There are more than 4000 coastal villages in Japan. Environmentalist have criticized Japan for overfishing China today is both largest producer and consumer of fish in the world. China produces most of it fish through aquaculture.
Core themes
With a population of 1.6 billion, this is the second most populous world region. China dominates the region in size, population, and economic power. Income has increased; cities have boomed, and air/water pollution are problematic. Most countries in the region have historical roots in China. Until 2014 rural-to-urban migration was illegal due to hukou system reinforced in the Communist era. Floating population had no rights to subsidized housing, school, or healthcare. Pinyin is used in this chapter. Pinyin is a spelling system based on Chinese sounds. Pinyin versions of Chinese place-names are now commonplace; for example, the city once called Peking in English is now Beijing and Canton is Guangzhou. Although China refers to Tibet as Xizang, people around the world who support the idea of Tibetan self-government avoid using that name. This text uses Tibet for the region (with Xizang in parentheses
