Globalization and Diversity Geography of a Changing World Chapter11文档.pdf

FIGURE 11.1 I EAST ASIA This region includes China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, the world’s largest country in terms of population, dominates East Asia with more than a billion people. The second largest country is Japan, with 128 million. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (now once again part of China) have long dominated economically. However, China’s recent de- velopment places that country solidly in the list of world players both politically and economically. (left) This satellite image shows North Korea’s Taepo Dong missile launch complex, illustrating the geopolitical tensions that mark East Asia. (IKONOS Satellite Image, Courtesy of GeoEye/WIA/AP Wide World Photos) C H 11 A P East Asia T ER S E T T I N G T H E B O U N D A R I E S East Asia is easily marked off on the map of the world but it is divided into two independent states: North Chinese by culture and language, and they have never by the territorial extent of its countries: China, Taiwan, Korea and South Korea. accepted the religious and philosophical beliefs that North Korea, South Korea, and Japan (see Figure 11.1). In political terms, such a straightforward definition have given historical unity to East Asian civilization. In Japan is composed of four main islands, but also of East Asia is appropriate. If one turns to cultural con- the northwestern portion of China, calle