East Asia
East Asia consist of six countries
• China
• Mongolia
• North Korea
• South Korea
• Japan
• Taiwan
Background Information
East Asia is one of the world’s cultural hearths, and China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilization-over 4000years.As a area in transition and it is appropriate to refer to the countries as political entities

Taiwan is still regarded by mainland China as temporary wayward country. North Korea is not a full member of the United Nations, and the division between North and South Korea may be temporary


Natural Environment
East Asia is encircled by snowcapped mountains, vast deserts, cold climates, and pacific water
Earthquakes and tremors occur almost continuously

Major Geographic qualities
POPULATION CONCENTRATIONS IN THE EAST, SITUATED IN RIVER BASINS
TOTAL AREA IS ABOUT 3.6 MILLION SQ MI
MAINLAND BORDERED (SURROUNDED) BY OCEAN, HIGH MOUNTAINS, STEPPE COUNTRY, AND DESERT

Not only Ice, snow and cold are very severe, but the region is also prone to earthquakes, landslides and avalanche-Avalanche is a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain

Major Rivers
The three major rivers are:
Huang He ( Yellow River)- in the north
Change Jiang ( Long River) also known as Yangzi
Xi Jiang ( west River) in the south

Historical Geography
Archeological theory holds that Homo Sapiens arrived in East Asia between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago

Early Cultural History
Jomon people, whose origin is uncertain were the first to have crossed into Japan about 10,000- 12000 years ago
Ainu people are the modern descendents of the Jomon. Today only 20,000 persons living in the northernmost Hokkaido trace their ancestors to the Ainu. The Ainu people subsisted on hunting, fishing. They were invaded by the Yayoi people

Dynastic China
China’s political history is chronicled in dynasty
China is one of the few regions where the process of state formation began

The Xia
The first documented dynasty in China (2200-1700 BC)- with Erlitou as the capital
The Xia Dynasty lasted for 4000 years ( 1911)

The Han Dynasty (206 BC- AD 220)
China’s formative period, thus territorial expansion of China. Xian, also referred to as “the Rome of China” was found during the Han dynastic era which was the greatest city in the world
The Han dynasty also marked the time of the Silk route-the most well-known trading route of ancient Chinese civilization.

Tang Dynasty
China reached a golden age during the Tang dynasty (618-907)
The Manchu (Qing) was China’s last dynasty.They were a minority group ( 1 million) that seized power and controlled millions. Their territorial expansion created for China, the largest empire ever. Their empire included Mongolia, much of Turkestan, Xizang (Tibet). Myanmar ( Burma)
The Manchu dynasty
Crumbled under the European powers.

Qing Dynasty
Many of the territorial acquisition made during the Qing dynastic form part of the modern Chinese state.

Regions of the Realm: Five geographic realms can be identified
China Proper
Xizang (Tibet)
Xinjiang
Mongolia
Jakota Triangle

CHINA PROPER-
EASTERN HALF; THE CORE

XIZANG (TIBET)- TALL MOUNTAINS AND HIGH PLATEAUS; SPARSELY POPULATED
XINJIANG- VAST DESERT BASIN AND MOUNTAIN RIMS; A CULTURAL CONTACT ZONE

MONGOLIA- A DESERT, BUFFER STATE

THE JAKOTA TRIANGLE
JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA, TAIWAN-RAPID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CHINESES PROSPECT
ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREAT CULTURE HEARTHS
CONTINUOUS CIVILIZATION FOR OVER 4,000 YEARS
VIEW OF CHINA AS THE CENTER OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD
EASTERN VS WESTERN BIAS
INWARD LOOKING
CLOSED SOCIETY

Physical Geography
China, Extent and Environment
China’s total area is slightly smaller than the United states including Alaska
China has no west coast

Evolving China
The teachings of Kongfuzi ( 551-479 BC) still known as Confucius, dominated Chinese life and thoughts for 20 years. Kongfuzi abhorred supernatural mysticism. Dismissed notions of divine ancestries of dynastic rulers. Rather, competence and merit should determine a person’s place in society.He wrote the Confucius classics ,which consisted of 13 texts. Until western influence began to erode their relevance, these 13 classics was the basis of education in China
A century of convulsion. China’s cultural strength was a force that withstood European interferences. None of the British manufactured good attracted the Chinese: Mechanical watch, British India textiles were ignored by the Chinese. The British were confined to small peninsular outpost-Macau, and the Chinese minimized communication with the Europeans

Colonial Influence
The colonial powers conquered China during the Manchu era, economically and Politically
Economic-
lower prices and better qualities of European commodities.
Growing presence of English and the demand of European merchants created conflicts: Importation into China of Opium from British India
Armed hostilities broke out when the Manchu rulers attempted to stamp out the opium (The first Opium war 1839-1842)
China was forced to Cede Hong Kong to the British
The British opened five ports, Including Guangzhou (Canton), and Shanghai to foreign commerce


Colonial Sphere
The German also obtained a lease on the city of Qingdao
The French- Zhanjiang
Portuguese- Held on to Macau
The Russians took control over Liaodong
Japan- Annexed Ryukyu Islands ( 1879) and Formosa ( Taiwan) in 1879

The Doctrine of Extraterritoriality
A doctrine of European international law employed in China during the late 1800s
Foreign states and their representatives are immune from the jurisdiction of the country in which they are based. Afforded immunity from local jurisdiction

Impact
constituted an erosion of Chinese sovereignty
distinct enclaves evolved- the best residential areas in major cities were declared “extraterritorial”

China Revival
Boxer rebellion in 1900
Formation of political parties – The nationalist (leader –Sun Yat-Sen) and the Chinese communist party ( prominent member-Mao Zedong).
Aim: targeted foreign presence
Sun Yat-sen died in 1925 was succeeded by Chiang Kai-Shek.
By 1927 foreigners began to run for their lives
Communists were also pursued by the nationalist
Mao and his cronies resisted the nationalist invasion

Japan in China
Japan seized the opportunity over the nationalist and communist contest and took control over the Northeast China. This led to the Chinese and Japanese war in 1937 where the Nationalist party bore much of the brunt of the war.This set the platform for the communist party to gain power. The Japanese committed atrocities on the Chinese including the use chemical and biological weapon. China quickly resumed after the US-led western powers defeated Japan in 1945
Mao Zedong
Leader of the communist party of China.He ruled china from 1949 to 1976. His population policy resented any population control because such policy was deemed as a capitalist plot to constraint China’s human resources

Current POLITICAL administration of China
4 CENTRAL-GOVERNMENT-ADMINISTERED MUNICIPALITIES
BEIJING (CAPITAL); TIANJIN (PORT CITY); SHANGHAI (LARGEST CITY); CHONGQUING (INTERIOR RIVER PORT)
5 AUTONOMOUS REGIONS
NEI MONGOL (INNER MONGOLIA); NINGXIA HUI; XINJIANG UYGUR (NW); GUANGXI ZHUANG (SOUTH); XIZANG (TIBET)
22 PROVINCES
GROW IN SIZE FROM EAST TO WEST

Population of China
1.306 BILLION
ANNUAL NATURAL INCREASE 0.7% (1970s - 3%)
DOUBLING TIME: 100 YEARS
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 70 (MALES), 73 (FEMALES)
TFR 1.8 BORN/WOMEN (1997)
ARITHMETIC DENSITY: 353 PEOPLE/SQ MI
PHYSIOLOGICAL DENSITY: 3,524 PEOPLE/SQ MI
ONLY 10% OF THE LAND IS ARABLE AND 69% OF THE POPULATION LIVES ON THIS LAND
DISTRIBUTION: WESTERN 2/3s IS SPARSELY POPULATED (MINORITIES)

ECONOMY
PROBLEMS STEMMED FROM THE STATE CONTROLLED ECONOMY.
SERIOUS ENERGY SHORTAGE
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE POORLY DEVELOPED
POPULAR RESISTANCE AND CHANGES IN CENTRAL POLICY HAVE WEAKENED CHINA’S POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Reorganization under communist
1950s- 1976 COMMUNIST REGIME LAUNCHED MASSIVE PROGRAMS OF RECONSTRUCTION AND REFORM BASED ON THE SOVIET MODEL
LAND WAS EXPROPRIATED.
FARMING WAS COLLECTIVIZED.
INDUSTRIES WERE REORGANIZED AS STATE-OWNED COMMUNAL ENTERPRISES.
EMPHASIS ON “HEAVY INDUSTRY”
DRAMATIC SOCIAL CHANGES- EDUCATION, RELIGION, POPULATION GROWTH

XIZANG (TIBET)

A HARSH PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
SPARSELY POPULATED
CAME UNDER CHINESE CONTROL DURING THE MANCHU DYNASTY IN 1720
GAINED SEPARATE STATUS IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY
S COMMUNIST REGIME TOOK CONTROL IN THE 1950s
FORMALLY ANNEXED IN 1965 AND ADMINISTERED AS AN AUTONOMOUS REGION

XINJIANG
COMPRISES ONE-SIXTH OF CHINA’S TOTAL LAND AREA
A REGION OF HIGH MOUNTAINS AND BASINS
CHINESE ONLY ACCOUNT FOR 40% OF THE POPULATION of 19 million
MUSLIM UYGHURS ACCOUNT FOR HALF OF THE POPULATION
BOASTS EXTENSIVE RESERVES OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS

Geography of development
Geographers view development process spatially
Walt Rostow formulated a global model of the development process

Traditional society-
Engages in mainly subsistent farming, locked in rigid social structure, resists technological change

Precondition to take off stage:
Here progressive leaders move the country toward greater flexibility, openness and diversity. Old ways are abandoned, workers move from farming to manufacturing, and transport improves
Take off stage
When the country experiences a type of industrial revolution, industrial urbanization proceeds, technology and mass-production break through occurs

Drive to maturity stage:
This stage is where continued expansion of the economy brings with it sophisticated industrial specialization and increasing international stage

High Mass consumption stage:
Tthis is where a society is marked by high income, widespread of goods and services, and most workers are employed in the tertiary and quaternary economic sector

Short coming of the theory
It takes little account of core-periphery contrast within individual countries
In China take off conditions ( stage 3) exist in much of the pacific rim, but other areas remain in stage 1

Hong Kong
MEANS “FRAGRANT HARBOR”- AN EXCELLENT DEEP WATER PORT
BOOMED DURING THE KOREAN WAR
6 MILLION PEOPLE WITHIN 400 SQ MILES
ECONOMY IS LARGER THAN HALF OF THE WORLD’S COUNTRIES
1 JULY 1997- BRITISH TRANSFERRED CONTROL TO CHINA
HONG KONG RENAMED XIANGGANG
ACQUIRED A NEW STATUS AS CHINA’S ONLY SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR)

Jakota Triangle
This region consists of
Japan
Korea ( North and South)
Taiwan

CHARACTERISTICS
Great cities
Enormous consumption of raw materials
State-of-the-art industries
Voluminous exports
Global links
Trades surpluses
Rapid development

Challenges
Social problems
Political uncertainties
Vulnerabilities

Japan historical outline
In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability.The Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, allowed Japan to open its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power.Japan was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1933 Japan occupied Manchuria, and
In 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China.Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US

Meiji Restoration
Modernizers took control of Japan in 1868 and Japan turned to Britain for guidance in reforming their nation, an event known as Meiji Restoration.Japan reinstated the emperor and began to transform from a Feudal society with pre-machine age technology to an industrial power. Adopted aspects of the British model
Launched a systematic study of the industrialized world
Focus was on industrialization and education system

Impact of Britain on Japan
The British advised the Japanese on the layout of cities, the construction of railroad networks, and the organization of education. Today, the Japanese, like the British, drive on the left side of the road
Literacy: total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2002)

EXPANSIONIST JAPAN
Taiwan 1895
Korea 1910
Pacific Islands post WWI
Manchuria 1931
China 1937
ong Kong 1939
Southeast Asia 1941

Declining Japanese population
Population: 127.4 million
Birth rate: 8 births/1,000
Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000
Growth rate: 0.0%
Life expectancy: 78 (M), 85 (F)
Urbanization: 78%

Korea
The size of “Idaho” but with a population of 73 million.
Turbulent political history:
A dependency of China
A colony of Japan’s
Divided along the 38th parallel by Allied Powers > WWII (1945)
The division gave North Korea to the forces of the Soviet Union and the South Korea to those of the United States. Although the two Koreas are in a potential situation of regional complimentarity, the political status of the two sides stops them from taking advantage of it
North Korea has raw materials south Korean needs and south Korea produces food that North Korea needs

Korea War (1950-1953)
The war began when communist forces from North Korea invaded the south in a forced unification drive. A ceasefire line was drown in 1953 between North and South Korea where tens of thousands of US troupes continue to guide this border

NORTH-SOUTH CONTRASTS
NORTH KOREA
55% of the land, 1/3 of the population, extremely rural
Antiquated state enterprises
Inefficient, non-productive agriculture
Limited trade – former Soviet Union and China

SOUTH KOREA
45% of the land, 2/3s of the population, highly urbanized
Modern factories
Intensive, increasingly mechanized agriculture
Extensive trade – US, Japan, and Western Europe
With a massive support from the United States South Korea has become a prosperous country by global standard
Seoul is the capital with a population of 10 million


North Korea
After six decades of communist rule, North Korea has become one of the poorest nation in the world. Population 23.6 million. Its Capital, Pyongyang, has a population one-fifth that of Seoul
North Korea has nuclear capabilities and associated weaponry. Its nuclear capability became an international concern in 2003. Since then a multinational efforts, led by the United States, Russia, China, Japan and South Korea have proved futile