Taiwan was ruled by China until 1895 when it fell to Japan In 1945 with Japan defeated it went back to China When Jiang Jieshi fled China he set up his Nationalist government on Taiwan Taiwan experienced rapid economic growth and enjoyed United States support The Green Revolution helped Taiwan in the 1960’s Trade boomed and in time Taiwan’s standard of living rose to one of the highest in Asia

As the economy grew the government slowly allowed people more political freedom China insisted that Taiwan rejoin China Despite political disputes economic ties between Taiwan and China grew. China hopes that it’s strong economic ties will eventually help resolve their political differences

Britain ruled the tiny island of Hong Kong after the Opium War Hong Kong grew into a center of trade In 1949 millions of refugees from the Chinese Revolution flooded into Hong Kong It also became a world financial center with many foreign banks and a busy stock market Hong Kong was building commercial ties as China was largely isolated 1997 Britain returned Hong Kong to China Beijing agreed to not change Hong Kong’s social or economic system for 50 years and to allow its people self government

200 square miles and has a population around 2 million Under British rule Singapore grew rapidly Britain brought in Chinese workers to work in factories that processed tin and rubber Singapore won independence from Britain in 1959 and then from nearby Malaya in 1963 Lee Kwan Yew was Singapore’s autocratic Prime Minister for over 30 years Lee supported free market economy

Lee brought in foreign capital that helped the economy boom The government welcomed skilled immigrants and insisted on education for all its people – in both English and Chinese It encouraged high tech industries, manufacturing, finance and tourism. Lee’s successors continued his strict policies Critics condemned limits on freedom

Korea was known as the Hermit Kingdom because it stayed isolated for years 1910, Japan annexed the Korean peninsula, imposing harsh rule After World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States agreed to a temporary division of Korea along the 38 th parallel of latitude. Soon North Korea was ruled by a communist Kim Il Sung and South Korea was ruled by Syngman Rhee

Neither side wanted a division Korea should be one, but which one is the question Sung attacked the south US then organized UN forces to help South Korea General Douglas MacArthur was the person running things for the UN forces

It turned into a stalemate Stalemate? Both sides signed an armistice Armistice?

mid 1960’s economy was better in the south Long hours, low wages and other worker sacrifices 1990’s they are an economic power house Exporting automobiles and electronics Because of the prosperity the workers won better wages and the standard of living rose 1997 they had a financial hardship, but reforms led to a recovery by they started to have direct elections for government and since then they have moved closer to democracy

State owned industries and collective farms increased output Kim emphasized self reliance which hurt them Propaganda glorified Sung as a great leader After his death his son Kim Jong Il took over Under his rule they faced failed government policies and terrible floods which destroyed harvests Too avoid starvation in his country he had to accept food from the US, South Korea, and other nations

Countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos – Battles against the French who were trying to regain control of the region, which it had lost during WWII to Japan – Civil Wars and cold war conflicts

Ho Chi Minh – North Vietnam (communist) Ngo Dinh Diem – South Vietnam (noncommunist) 1954 – International conference – agreement was reached to divide Vietnam, but called for elections to reunite Vietnam Elections were never held because the US feared that communist might win

At first, US only sent military advisers and supplies to South Vietnam Later it sent troops 1964 – US starts bombing targets in North Vietnam Eventually 500,000 troops were committed 1968 – Guerrilla forces launched an attack against the US and South Vietnam – caught them by surprise because it took place at Tet, the Vietnamese New Year This is known as the Tet Offensive Richard Nixon arranged a cease-fire and began withdrawing troops in – North Vietnamese captured Saigon, capital of the south, and reunited the country

Ho Chi Minh was admired as a hero who had fought the Japanese and French Diem and his successors in South Vietnam were unpopular leaders and seen as corrupt Vietnamese saw the US as another world power that wanted to dominate their land The Guerillas were experts in the jungle terrain

Communist victors imposed harsh rule on the south Recovery was slow due to government inefficiencies and an American led embargo, or blockage of trade 1990s – Vietnamese introduced some free market reforms, opening the door to investors US lifted its embargo and restored diplomatic relations