China’s population, physiography, climate, agriculture, development, and natural resources
The country is well situated with good geography and climate that can support the farming activities, exploitation of resources, etc. China is among the most industrialized countries in the world and they continue to advance day by day. All types of industries can be found in the country since they have made inventions of modern machinery that can do all types of work.
When we study the maps that present China’s physical world and its population, we see that there is a certain connection between them. We see that unlike in many other countries where people move to big cities, the Chinese population is dependent on soil, water, and warmth (Blijde et al 317), and this defines the population trends. For example, the population is dense along the main rivers.
Hong Kong as China’s key to becoming a Global Superpower
It took only about 30 years to turn Shenzhen from a “sleepy” village of 200,000 into a territory with a population of over 8 million (328). China’s SEZs turn out to be a very successful experiment: being an attractive offer for investors, these zones developed rapidly and have turned into prosperous industrial territories. Today, when the basis of success has been created, it will be even easier for China to continue the development of other territories and turn into a global superpower.
Hong Kong is considered an economic giant in the world due to the massive industrial development that has taken place. They have expanded their economic activities to most other countries in the world. More so, they have been able to establish excellent trade routes and good relationships with other states. On the other hand, they are considered to be among the brightest in the world, having contributed towards machinery inventions that are all-purpose.
China’s economy in comparison to the economies of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan
Today Japan has a strong developed economy. The country began its modernization by importing technology from other developed countries (336); today the country produces high-tech goods and remains one of the most significant World financial centers; it provides high living standards to its citizens. The economy of South Korea is also strong: the country produces cars, chemicals, electronics et al (339). Shipbuilding is one of the country’s major specializations.
The economy of North Korea has been exhausted by the decades of Communism. Today the country has to overcome the consequences of the long period of stagnation (ibid.). North Korea mostly exports raw materials. Taiwan has a successful economic history: being “boosted” by Chinese SEZ’s (340), where it established its companies, the region is now rapidly growing.
Chinese versus European colonization of Southeast Asia
The development of the countries of the Southeast Asia realm was significantly impacted by colonialism. The region had a good location, significant nature, and human resources, which attracted European colonizers after Magellan’s expedition. In the 19th century, the considerable migration from Chinese southern provinces took place: the Chinese were at first welcomed by European colonizers who intended to exploit them as laborers (349). Gradually, the power of the Chinese in the region increased (351).
It is difficult to state that one country was more helped by colonialism and another was more hurt by it: from (351-352) we see that on all colonial territories, Europeans captured the power and exploited local nature and labor resources thinking more about their interest rather than about the interest of the local population. At the same time, colonialism contributed to the development of the territories and gave rise to their independent states.
Works Cited
Blijde, Harm J., Peter O. Muller, and Antoinette Winklerprins. The World Today: Concepts and Regions in Geography. 4th ed. USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Print.