Chapter Six

Southeast Asia and

South Pacific

A World of Influences

Varied Strands Brought TogetherContrasting 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)

POINT COUNTERPOINT

POINTA new global consciousness is overcoming previous isolationist and chauvinist attitudes.

COUNTERPOINTSuch 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)

POINTTourism 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.

COUNTERPOINTTourism 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)

POINTAPEC provides a more inclusive forum than ASEAN.

COUNTERPOINTASEAN+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)

POINTAPEC’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.

COUNTERPOINTChina 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 IslandsAustralia• Aborigines• Animism

New Zealand• Moaris

South Pacific Islands• Melanesian people• Micronesian people• Polynesian people

Cultural History and Colonialism (cont’d)

The ColonistsSoutheast 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 IslandsPlate Movements, Mountain Ranges, and Volcanic Activities

Ancient Continent

Major Rivers• Irrawaddy River• Salween River• Mekong River• Red River

Natural Environments (cont’d)

Distinctive EcosystemsMarsupials

Mallee

Wallace Line

Natural ResourcesSoutheast Asia

Australian Resources

Pacific Island

Natural Environments (cont’d)

Environmental ProblemsNatural Hazards

Pollution, Erosion, and Mining Excavations

Globalization

Incomes per capita vary considerably

Trading links in many differing directions

Attempts at integrationASEAN+3

Subregions

Southeast Asia

Australia and New Zealand

South Pacific Islands

Southeast Asia

Increasing Trading Links

Rich Cultural Heritage

Outside Influences

CountriesContinental Countries

Island Countries

Southeast Asia (cont’d)

PeopleEthnic Variety

Population Growth Slows• Transmigration

Impacts of Rapid Urbanization• Primate city

Urbanization under Communism• Deurbanization

Traffic in People

Southeast Asia (cont’d)

Economic DevelopmentASEAN, 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 AsiaMarket-Led Industrialization• “Crony capitalism”• “Ersatz capitalism”

Expanding Tourism in Southeast Asia• Ecotourism

Communist Economic Stagnation and ChangeMyanmar’s Economy

Australia and New Zealand

CountriesAustralia

Political Regions: The States

Southeast Australia

Northern Australia

Interior and Western Australia

New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand (cont’d)

PeopleImmigrant Populations• White Australian policy

Urban Populations

Population Dynamics

Australia and New Zealand (cont’d)

Economic DevelopmentSouth 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

PeoplePopulation Distribution and Dynamics• Overpopulation

Small Towns

Economic DevelopmentFarm, Forest, and Mine Products

Tourism

Antarctica: A Region?

Antarctica’s Global Status

Antarctica and the Southern Oceans

Antarctica’s Resources

Tourism