Chapter Six Southeast Asia and South Pacific

A World of Influences Varied Strands Brought Together Contrasting natural environments, cultures, and outlooks Chinese, Indian, Arab, and European traders Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam

A World of Influences (cont’d) Domino Theory Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Pacific Rim Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) Varied Economic Achievements

POINT Countries bordering the Pacific Ocean are mainly affluent (USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand) or growing economically (South Korea, China, Mexico, Southeast Asian countries, Chile). Russia is also a member. COUNTERPOINT Major differences exist in cultures, languages, attitudes, and demands. Attempts to devise treaties give a false sense of common identity. Most countries still have greater trading links outside this area. Within the area, distances between places are long. Point-Counterpoint: Pacific Rim

POINT The United States built up economic links to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan as an outcome of security and defense policies. Now the West Coast of the United States depends on its Asian links. Hong Kong, Singapore, and Los Angeles-Long Beach are the world’s three busiest ports. COUNTERPOINT Such trans-Pacific trade depends on U.S. policy, and the Asian countries are building more trade among themselves. Point-Counterpoint (cont’d)

Australia, New Zealand, and some of the South Pacific islands need to take advantage of the trading opportunities after losing former colonial markets in Europe. They produce wood, agricultural, and mineral raw materials, and are working toward greater penetration of Asian markets through specialist products such as high-quality noodle grain, specialty fruit and nut products, and beef preferences. The Asian countries wish only to purchase raw materials and not the processed forms that bring greater income to the producers such as Australia. Asian and North American countries protect their agricultural producers, and in 2002, the United States acted to protect its steel producers. Point-Counterpoint (cont’d) POINTCOUNTERPOINT

POINT A new global consciousness is overcoming previous isolationist and chauvinist attitudes. COUNTERPOINT Such attitudes take a long time to change. Australians long gave the impression that they wished to keep out the “yellow peril” of Asians, and their attitudes on environmental issues clash with those of Southeast Asian countries. The Asians act as if Europeans are lower beings and regard Australia and New Zealand (let alone the small Pacific islands) as small markets for their products. Dependency rather than equal roles could result. Point-Counterpoint (cont’d)

POINT Tourism is already bringing people from all these lands together and is a major area of economic growth for East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands— and even Antarctica. COUNTERPOINT Tourism is too dependent on other aspects of economic growth to be regarded as basic. The area experienced major downturns in visitors following the 1997 financial crisis in Asia and the September 11, 2001, events in the United States. Point-Counterpoint (cont’d)

POINT APEC provides a more inclusive forum than ASEAN. COUNTERPOINT ASEAN+3 enlarges the scope of the Asian grouping but excludes Australia and New Zealand as well as countries of the Americas. The Asian countries share more interests with each other than they do with other Pacific Rim countries. Australia and New Zealand have involvements with the South Pacific Forum, which questions the fishing and timber felling actions of Asians. Point-Counterpoint (cont’d)

POINT APEC’s Shanghai summit in October 2001 called for better cooperation against terrorism. This step was welcomed by Australia and New Zealand, which wish to broaden APEC interests and see security as part of stable economic links. COUNTERPOINT China is not happy about this because of the U.S. involvement in managing security, while other countries worry about a potential overflow of internal Chinese problems. Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei were not happy about the U.S. involvement in the 2002 war in Afghanistan. Point-Counterpoint (cont’d)

Cultural History and Colonialism Khmer, Burmese, Thai, and Vietnamese Empires Mon and Khmer Vietnamese, Lao, and Burmese Shan and Karen Thai Cultures Meet on the Southeast Asian Islands

Cultural History and Colonialism (cont’d) Australia, New Zealand, & the Pacific Islands Australia Aborigines Animism New Zealand Moaris South Pacific Islands Melanesian people Micronesian people Polynesian people

Cultural History and Colonialism (cont’d) The Colonists Southeast Asia Dutch East India Company Thailand (Siam) Australia and New Zealand Terra Australis Pacific Islands

Natural Environments Equatorial, Arid, Oceanic, and Frozen Climates Mainly Equatorial Southeast Asia Tropical Ocean Climates Australia and New Zealand

Natural Environments (cont’d) Continents and Islands Plate Movements, Mountain Ranges, and Volcanic Activities Ancient Continent Major Rivers Irrawaddy River Salween River Mekong River Red River

Natural Environments (cont’d) Distinctive Ecosystems Marsupials Mallee Wallace Line Natural Resources Southeast Asia Australian Resources Pacific Island

Natural Environments (cont’d) Environmental Problems Natural Hazards Pollution, Erosion, and Mining Excavations

Globalization Incomes per capita vary considerably Trading links in many differing directions Attempts at integration ASEAN+3

Subregions Southeast Asia Australia and New Zealand South Pacific Islands

Southeast Asia Increasing Trading Links Rich Cultural Heritage Outside Influences Countries Continental Countries Island Countries

Southeast Asia (cont’d) People Ethnic Variety Population Growth Slows Transmigration Impacts of Rapid Urbanization Primate city Urbanization under Communism Deurbanization Traffic in People

Southeast Asia (cont’d) Economic Development ASEAN, Growth, and the Late-1990s Crisis Economic Changes in Thailand Farming Changes in Southeast Asia Padi Green Revolution New rice technology Plantations South Asian Forest Products

Southeast Asia (cont’d) Economic Development (cont’d) Mining in Southeast Asia Market-Led Industrialization “Crony capitalism” “Ersatz capitalism” Expanding Tourism in Southeast Asia Ecotourism Communist Economic Stagnation and Change Myanmar’s Economy

Australia and New Zealand Countries Australia Political Regions: The States Southeast Australia Northern Australia Interior and Western Australia New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand (cont’d) People Immigrant Populations White Australian policy Urban Populations Population Dynamics

Australia and New Zealand (cont’d) Economic Development South Pacific Forum Changes in Australia Problems of Trade Dependence Australia’s Dominant Mining Australia’s Farm Output Australia’s Underdeveloped Northlands Tourism New Zealand

South Pacific Islands Island Countries People Population Distribution and Dynamics Overpopulation Small Towns Economic Development Farm, Forest, and Mine Products Tourism

Antarctica: A Region? Antarctica’s Global Status Antarctica and the Southern Oceans Antarctica’s Resources Tourism