SOUTHEAST ASIA

Physical Geography of Southeast Asia

• South of China, East of India, North of Australia

• Two main chunks – Indochina Peninsula

Malay Archipelago

• Archipelagos – chains of islands

• Many small seas• Tropical, wet climate• Part of Ring of Fire

What would the “Ring of Fire” do for this region?

Why was this region in the news in 2004?

Human Geography of Southeast Asia

• Historical Spice Trade source for Europe• Rice-paddy agriculture• Main religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam• Influenced by India, China, and Europe• All but East Timor are members of ASEAN:

“Association of Southeast Asian Nations” • Economies of region all affected by “Globalization”, the

international spread of trade and industry from rich countries to developing countries.

Nations of Southeast AsiaIndochina Peninsula• Cambodia – 15 million• Laos – 6 million• Myanmar – 51 million• Thailand – 63 million• Vietnam – 85 million

Malay Archipelago• Indonesia – 222

million• Malaysia – 27 million• Brunei – 380,000• Philippines – 85

million• Singapore – 5 million• East Timor – 1 million

Overview of the Malay ArchipelagoIndonesia – Enormous nation of islands with diverse cultures and religions, largest nation in region.

Malaysia – Wealthy, stable Muslim country with British-influenced government. Strong economy due to international trade, regional banking

Brunei – Tiny Muslim nation run by a Sultan. Extremely wealthy due to oil and foreign investment.

Philippines – Large nation of islands, Spanish-influenced, Roman Catholic. Large population, mostly poor. Formerly a US possession.

Singapore – City-State, former British colony, now an extremely wealthy microstate, Chinese population with very strict laws.

East Timor – Former Portuguese colony, annexed by Indonesia in 1975, now an independent country.

Overview of IndochinaCambodia – Buddhist country, formerly run by Khmer Rouge; “Killing Fields” massacres

Laos – Poor Buddhist country, mostly subsistence agriculture, hasn’t recovered from recent wars.

Myanmar – Also called Burma, run by military dictatorship.

Thailand – Independent Buddhist monarchy, large population and rapidly improving economy based on industry and tourism to Bangkok.

Vietnam – Communist country, dominant state in Indochina, site of the Vietnam War (1954-1975).

The Vietnam War

Vietnam War Pt 1 – 1945-1954• After WW2, France ruled Vietnam as a colony.

• France driven out by Viet Cong (Communists), led by Ho Chi Minh, in 1954.

• Geneva Accords (1954) created North Vietnam (Communist) and South Vietnam (Democratic), but Ho Chi Minh wanted a united Vietnam.

• Domino Theory– fear of spread of Communism – US sends troops to stop Viet Cong.

Why is it called the “Domino Theory”?

What was going on in the world that made the US worry about

Communism spreading?

Vietnam War Pt 2 – 1954-1975• Escalation (1964-1969) after Gulf of

Tonkin Resolution – US sends in more troops, up to 500,000 at any time.

• Viet Cong shuttle supplies in along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

• Tet Offensive (1968) – Vietcong surprise attack on New Years holiday, changed public perception of war.

• “Vietnamization” (1969-1973) – US shifts load to South Vietnam, starts pulling out of Vietnam. North Vietnam enters war openly.

• Fall of South Vietnam (1973-1975) – North Vietnam wins, unifies Vietnam.

Aftermath of Vietnam War• Vietnam became a Communist country, but

“Domino Theory” never happened.

• Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, “Killing Fields” of Cambodia

• Refugees fled region – “Boat People” came to US and other SE Asian nations.

What do you think the Vietnam War did to the United States? What about to Texas?

Cambodia and the Killing Fields• After the Vietnam War, Cambodia was taken

over by an extreme communist group called the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, from 1975 to 1979-1980ish.

• They wanted make Cambodia into a classless society where everyone lived on collective farms.

• To do this, they tried to wipe out their enemies, anyone who didn’t go along with the plan.

• They killed about 4 million people, ½ of Cambodia. The bodies were buried in mass graves, called the “Killing Fields”.

Conflict in Spratlys and Paracels• Small islands in the South China Sea

• Claimed by China, but also claimed by Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

• These countries all have military forces in the islands, and occasionally they fight.

• Why? Oil and natural gas!

2004 Christmas Tsunami

• December 26, 2004 – 9.3 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a tsunami.

• Tsunami swept around the Indian Ocean, killing almost 250,000 people

• Later, there was an 8.3 earthquake in the same place, but luckily no tsunami formed.