Asia in the 21st Century

People’s Republic of China

Government: • Type: Communist State• Leader: President Hu Jintao (2003)

Economy: • Type: Command Economy(w/market reforms)• GDP: 10 trillion• GDP Rank: 2nd • Industries: Steel (topped U.S. as largest steel exporter) Apparel (costs less due to low labor prices) Chemicals (fertilizers/plastics/fibers) Machinery, Electronics, Transportation

Current Events & Issues• #1 Economy Soon estimated to be top economy by 2027• Worlds Largest Exporter Topped U.S. in 2010• Worlds Largest Creditor U.S. owes est. 1.16 trillion to China (U.S. Treasury Dept.)

• Currency Manipulation at odds with the West• Human Rights violations irritate the West; high rate of poverty (avg. salary $4,260 a year)

• Oil Demand rising demand = higher prices worldwide

Gateway to Imperial City Great Wall of China Terra Cotta Statues

Japan

Government: • Type: Parliamentary Govt. w/ Constitutional Monarchy

• Leader: Prime Minister Naoto Kan (2010)

Economy: • Type: Mixed Economy• GDP: 4.31 trillion• GDP Rank: 3rd• Industries: Technology (Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, etc.) Motor Vehicles (Nissan, Toyota, Honda) Fishing (15% of worldwide catch) Others: (Machinery, Textiles, Processed

Foods)

Current Events & Issues• Debt national debt stands at 200% of GDP• Lack of Natural Resources island/limited resources

• Political Instability Since 2006, Japan has had six different prime ministers, none serving more than two years

• Electronic Industry largest in the world• Aging & Shrinking Population Est: by 2060, Japan

will have 87 million people, down from today's 128 million

• Disaster Recovery 2011 earthquake & tsunami• High Suicide Rate highest in the world

Imperial Palace Temple & Mt. Fuji Tokyo Govt. Building

India

Government: • Type: Federal Republic• Leader: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (2004)Economy: • Type: Open Market Economy• GDP 4.06 trillion • GDP Rank: 9th• Industries: Small Car Manufacturing, Bollywood (larger value than Hollywood) Software and Telecommunications

(outsourcing) Others: Mining, Food Processing Machinery

Current Events & Issues• India v. Pakistan nuclear arms & political disputes• Kashmir land dispute between India, China, &

Pakistan

• Overcrowding world’s 2nd largest population (est. by 2030 to be largest in world)

• Social Issues Large wealth gap(avg.income=$1,300 a year) Poverty (41% live on less than $1 a day) Poor Sanitation (cause of 1 in 10 deaths)

Caste bias & Little access to education

Inadequate infrastructure (squatters)

The Taj Mahal Varanasi (religious capital) Qutab Minar

South Korea

Government: • Type: Republic• Leader: President Lee Myung-bak

(2008)Economy: • Type: Mixed Economy• GDP: 1.46 trillion • GDP Rank: 15th • Industries: Electronics and High-Tech Industry

Automobile Manufacturing (Kia) Telecommunications

Chemical, & Steel

Current Events & Issues• North v. South military, border, & political

disputes

• Economic Growth recovery from 2008 recession• Free Trade Agreement signed in 2011 with

U.S.

• Rapidly Aging Population nearly 10% is 65 or older

• Heavy Reliance on Exports 50% of GDP

Bridge of No Return (DMZ) Great Southern Gate (Seoul) Gyeongbokgung Palace

North Korea

Government: • Type: Communist State• Leader: Dictator Kim Jong Un

(2011)Economy: • Type: Command Economy• GDP: 40 billion • GDP Rank: 91st • Industries: Military Products (weapons and supplies)

Machinery, Textiles,& Food Processing

Mining and Chemicals

Current Events & Issues• North v. South military, border, and political disputes• Militarized Nation Population of 5 million people and 9.5 million are in the military

• Economic Problems food shortages, underinvestment, high military spending, fuel shortages

• Leadership Change Kim Jong Il died Dec. 2011• Human Rights & Poverty malnutrition, famine, poor living conditions, no civil rights

• Ally with China economic and political support

Rugen Hotel, Pyongyang Kim Jong Il Statue Military Parade

Vietnam

Government: • Type: Communist State• Leader: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

Economy: • Type: Command Economy• GDP 276 billion • GDP Rank: 43rd • Industries: Textiles, Apparel, & Shoes

Machinery & Mining, Food Processing & Mobile Phones

Current Events & Issues• Economic Reforms restructure public investment,

state-owned enterprises, & banking sector

• Fast Growing Economy hurt by worldwide recession• High Inflation avg. 18% in 2011• Human Trafficking sex trade and forced labor• Human Rights Violations little civil liberties

Islands in Halong Bay Ho Chi Minh’s Tomb Gateway to Temple of Lit.

Myanmar

Government: • Type: Unitary Presidential Republic• Leader: President Thein Sein

(2010)

Economy: • Type: Market Oriented Economy• GDP 51.9 million• GDP Rank: 76th • Industries: Rice Cultivation Precious Stones(sapphires,rubies,jade,pearls)

Current Events & Issues• Poor Nation one of the poorest nations in Asia• Social Problems corruption, inadequate infrastructure, little education, human rights

violations

• Political Transition military rule (1962-2011) civilian govt. elected 2010

• Healthcare worst system in the world (rated 190 by W.H.O.)

• Reforms Aung San Suu Kyi wins seat in parliament

Stilt Houses (Lake Inle) Rice Cultivation

Indonesia

Government: • Type: Republic• Leader: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

(2004)

Economy: • Type: Market Economy• GDP 1.03 trillion • GDP Rank: 18th • Industries: Apparel and Footwear Mining, Petroleum and Natural Gas

Rubber and Food

Current Events & Issues• Fast Growing Economy recovered worldwide

recession; back at a 6% growth rate

(2010-11)

• Social Problems poverty, unemployment, corruption,

inadequate infrastructure

• Environment natural disaster threat and protecting the environment

• Border Security terrorism & Islamic fundamentalism

Jakarta (business center) Borobudar Temple, Java 1 or Indonesia’s 17,000 islands

Taiwan

Government: • Type: Democracy• Leader: President Ma Ying-jeou

(2008)

Economy: • Type: Mixed Economy• GDP 821 billion • GDP Rank: 24th • Industries: Electronics

Petroleum, & Chemicals,& Steel Machinery & Textiles,

Current Events & Issues• Diplomatic & Economic Isolation split

w/China

• Low Birthrate 1 child per women lowest fertility rate in the world

• Rapidly Aging Population 10.9% of population over 65

• Large Trade Surplus & Foreign Reserves • China & Taiwan Relationship volatile but

growing

Memorial Hall (Taipei) Sun Moon Lake (Nantou) National Palace Museum

Thailand

Government: • Type: Constitutional Monarchy• Leader: Prime Minister Abhisit Wetchachiwa

(2008)

Economy: • Type: Free Enterprise Economy• GDP 821 billion • GDP Rank: 30th • Industries: Textiles & Apparel Tourism Light Manufacturing, Tungsten, & Tin

Current Events & Issues• Fast Growing Economy hurt by worldwide

recession (double-digit drop) but growth (4% in

2011)

• Violence separatist violence in Muslim south • Border Dispute w/Cambodia• Drugs drug money laundering • Human Trafficking sex trade and forced labor

Statue of King Rama IV in (Bangkok) Wat Pho (Bangkok) Grand Palace (Bangkok)