Chapter 21

East Asia and Southeast Asia1945–Present

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

World History: Connection to Today, Modern EraWorld History: Connection to Today, Modern Era

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Chapter 21: East Asia and Southeast Asia 1945–Present

Section 1: Japan Becomes an Economic Superpower

Section 2: From Revolution to Reform in China

Section 3: The Asian Tigers

Section 4: Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim

World History: Connection to Today, Modern EraWorld History: Connection to Today, Modern Era

Japan Becomes an Economic SuperpowerJapan Becomes an Economic Superpower

• What factors made Japan’s recovery an economic miracle?

• How did Japan interact economically and politically with other nations?

• How are patterns of life changing in Japan?

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Recovery and Economic MiracleRecovery and Economic Miracle

In 1945, Japan lay in ruins. What factors allowed Japan to recover and produce an economic miracle?

• Japan’s success was based on producing goods for export. At first, the nation manufactured textiles. Later, it shifted to making steel, and then to high technology.

• While Japan had to rebuild from scratch, the nation had successfully industrialized in the past. Thus, it was able to quickly build efficient, modern

factories and adapt the latest technology.• Japan benefited from an educated, highly skilled work force. • Japanese workers saved much of their money. These savings gave banks the

capital to invest in industrial growth.• Japan did not have to spend money on maintaining a large military force.

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Japanese Motor Vehicle Exports, 1997Japanese Motor Vehicle Exports, 19971

Economic and Political InteractionEconomic and Political Interaction

• The oil crisis of the 1970s brought home Japan’s dependence on the world market. In response to the economic challenge the oil crisis presented, Japan sought better relations with oil-producing nations of the Middle East.

• Japan has had to deal with nations that still held bitter memories of World War II. Japan was slow to apologize for its wartime actions. In the 1990s, Japanese leaders offered some public regrets for the destruction of the war years.

• For many years, Japan took a back seat in international politics. More recently, it has taken on a larger world role. Today, Japan ranks as the world’s largest donor of foreign aid.

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Changing Patterns of LifeChanging Patterns of Life

• In the 1990s, Japan faced a terrible economic depression. Many workers lost the security of guaranteed lifetime employment, and confidence was undermined.

• In the 1990s, charges of corruption greatly weakened Japan’s dominant political party, the LDP. Some younger, reform-minded politicians broke with the LDP, threatening its monopoly on power.

• Today, most Japanese live in crowded cities in tiny, cramped apartments.

• While women have legal equality, traditional attitudes keep them in subordinate positions in the workplace.

• For decades, Japanese sacrificed family life to work long hours. Many younger Japanese, however, want more time to enjoy themselves. Some older Japanese worry that the old work ethic is weakening.

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From Revolution to Reform in ChinaFrom Revolution to Reform in China

• What were the effects of communist policies in China?

• What challenges did China face during the Cold War?

• How did calls for political reform lead to repression?

• What challenges face China today?

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Communist Policies Communist Policies

Although some reforms did result in more access to education and greater equality, people in China paid a heavy cost for Mao’s programs. During the 1950s and 1960s, two efforts in particular led to economic disaster and tremendous loss of life.

In the “Great Leap Forward,” Mao urged people to make a superhuman effort to increase farm output. • Food output slowed and backyard industries turned out low-

quality, useless goods.• A terrible famine occurred. Between 1959 and 1961,

up to 30 million Chinese starved to death.

The goal of the Cultural Revolution was to purge China of “bourgeois” tendencies. • The Cultural Revolution convulsed China. Schools and factories closed. The economy slowed, and civil war threatened.

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China and the Cold WarChina and the Cold War

Stalin sent economic aid and technical experts to China, but he and Mao disagreed on many issues.

China and the Soviet Union competed for influence in developing nations.

By 1960, border disputes and clashes over ideology led the Soviets to withdraw all aid and advisers from China.

At first, the United States refused to recognize the People’s Republic of China and for years tried to isolate China.

Slowly, relations improved.

In 1979, the United States set up formal diplomatic relations with China.

RELATIONS WITH THE SOVIET UNION

RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES

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Tiananmen SquareTiananmen Square

By the late 1980s, some Chinese were demanding greater political freedom and economic reform.

The crackdown showed that China’s Communist leaders were determined to maintain control. To them, order was more important than political freedom.

In 1989, thousands of demonstrators occupied Tiananmen Square and called for democracy.

The government sent in troops and tanks. Thousands of demonstrators were killed or wounded.

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Challenges TodayChallenges Today

China’s human rights abuses have brought strong pressure from trading partners such as the United States.

Population growth strained the economy and posed a challenge for the future.

As communist ideology weakened, governmentcorruption became a growing problem.

Many state-run industries were inefficient, but could not be closed without risking high unemployment and economic chaos.

Inequalities between rich and poor urban and rural Chinese continued to grow.

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The Asian TigersThe Asian Tigers

• How has China influenced Taiwan and Hong Kong?

• How did Singapore modernize?

• Why has Korea remained divided for more than 50 years?

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Asian TigersAsian Tigers

The term “Asian tigers” refers to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea.

• All four are small Asian lands that became “newly industrialized countries” by the 1980s. • They are known for their aggressive economic growth. • Although they differ in important ways, all followed similar roads

to modernization after 1945.• All four were influenced by China.• In each, the Confucian ethic shaped attitudes about work. • All four had stable governments that invested in education.

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Taiwan and Hong KongTaiwan and Hong Kong

Taiwan was ruled by China until 1895, when it fell to Japan.

The Japanese built some industry, providing a foundation for later growth.

Taiwan first set up light industries and later, developed heavy industry.

After the Cold War, Taiwanese businesses invested in companies on the Chinese mainland.

Britain won Hong Kong from China after the Opium War.

Hong Kong’s prosperity was based largely on trade and light industry.

Hong Kong also became a world financial center.

Hong Kong’s amazing growth was due in part to its location on China’s doorstep.

In 1997, Britain returned Hong Kong to China.

Both Taiwan and Hong Kong have deep cultural and historical links to China.

TAIWAN HONG KONG

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How Did Singapore Modernize?How Did Singapore Modernize?

During his 30 years in power, Prime Minister Lee Kwan Yew:

• supported a free-market economy• attracted foreign capital by keeping labor costs low• expanded Singapore’s seaport into one of the world’s busiest harbors • welcomed skilled immigrants• insisted on education for all of Singapore’s people• encouraged high-tech industries, manufacturing, finance, and tourism • followed a Confucian model of development, emphasizing hard work

and saving money

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The Two KoreasThe Two Koreas

After World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States divided Korea along the 38th parallel.

Before long, North Korea became a communist ally of the Soviet Union. The United States backed noncommunist South Korea.

In 1950, North Korea attacked South Korea. The war turned into a stalemate.

In 1953, both sides signed an armistice, or end to fighting. The armistice has held for 50 years, but no peace treaty has ever been negotiated.

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Korean War, 1950 – 1953Korean War, 1950 – 19533

Southeast Asia and the Pacific RimSoutheast Asia and the Pacific Rim

• How did war affect Vietnam and Cambodia?

• What challenges faced the Philippines and the developing nations of Southeast Asia?

• Why is the Pacific Rim a vital region?

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War in Vietnam and CambodiaWar in Vietnam and Cambodia

Communists fought against noncommunists supported by the United States for control of Vietnam.

After the United States withdrew from the war, the North Vietnamese reunited the country under communist rule.

The communist victors imposed harsh rule in the south.

Vietnam had to rebuild a land destroyed by war.

During the Vietnam War, fighting spilled over into neighboring Cambodia.

In 1970, the United States bombed and then invaded Cambodia.

When the United States left, communist guerrillas called Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, slaughtered more than a million Cambodians.

In 1979, Vietnam invaded and occupied Cambodia.

In mainland Southeast Asia, an agonizing liberation struggle tore apart the region once known as French Indochina.

VIETNAM CAMBODIA

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Vietnam War, 1968 – 1975Vietnam War, 1968 – 19754

The PhilippinesThe Philippines

In 1946, the Philippines gained freedom after almost 50 years of American rule.

In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos was elected president. Marcos promised reform but became a dictator.

In 1986, the people of the Philippines forced Marcos to leave in what was called the “people power” revolution.

Corazón Aquino became president and restored the fragile democracy.

Challenges:

• The country enjoyed economic growth during the 1990s, but many people remained poor.

• Government corruption and guerrilla wars threatened the nation’s stability.

• The Philippines experienced rapid urbanization.• Natural disasters caused setbacks.• Many enterprising Filipinos left the country.

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Developing Nations of Southeast AsiaDeveloping Nations of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian nations faced many problems after independence.They lacked experience in self-government.They faced complex ethnic and religious conflicts. Demands for political freedom and social justice were frequent.

For years, repressive military rulers battled rebel ethnic minorities. They isolated the country and imposed state socialism.

In 1990, the government held elections. The opposition party won, but the military rejected the election results.

Geography posed an obstacle to unity in Indonesia.

Under authoritarian rule, Indonesia made great economic progress.

The 1997 Asian financial crisis led to riots against the government.

A new government was elected and faced many problems.

MYANMAR INDONESIA

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The Pacific RimThe Pacific Rim

• By the 1990s, the volume of trade across the Pacific Rim was greater than that across the Atlantic. The region has potential for further growth.

• Countries on the Pacific Rim formed a huge market that lured investors, especially multinational corporations.

• The development of the Pacific Rim promises to bring the Americas and Asia closer together.

In the modern global economy, Southeast Asia and East Asia are part of a vast region known as the Pacific Rim. It includes countries in Asia and the Americas that border the Pacific Ocean.

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