Remastered – Photos of the Past

December 16, 2009

I’ve spent the last two evenings working on touching up some of the more interesting, colourful or artistic photographs I’ve taken of my travels in the Asia-Pacific region over the past six and a half years. Usually I don’t retouch, process or manipulate my photos in any way after taking them,  uploading  onto the computer and eventually online. Though, since I have Photoshop and it cost a fortune to buy I’ve decided to work some of my old photos taking advantage of some of the nifty features the computer program offers. I’m still a beginner at digital manipulation as previously the only time I’ve ever re-edited photos was to manipulate my crooked teeth into something more appealing!

Working on these photos has brought back memories of all the places I’ve been to over the past few years. It’s a blessing to live in the modern world and be freely able to travel extensively and see new places, and experience new cultures. I hope I can do so for many more years to come.

Here are some samples of the album below, the full collection can be found on my Facebook album.

Enjoy~!

1 Comment | Architecture, Asia - where the East is the new West, Asia-Pacific, Australia, China, Environment, Japan, Korea, Photos, Sydney, Travel | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
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A good book worth a read is …

December 3, 2009

A good book worth a read is China – Fragile Superpower by China expert,  former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State under the Clinton administration and current professor on International Relations and Pacific Studies, Susan Shirk.

The book explains and examines the many complex factors which define, underline, and often potentially undermine the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as it continues to weave the fine line of keeping its economy going along steadily whilst keeping its increasingly mobile, educated, spirited and critical populace happy, (or at least pre-occupied with other concerns), all the while having to deal with trade agreements and alliances, foreign partners and former foes, disputed regions and potential flashpoints both within and near the country.

Having opened up to the world with Nixon’s state visit in 1972 and furthermore in 1979 with Deng Xiaoping’s economic reforms of “socialism with capitalist characteristics” which have transformed the sleeping giant into an economic dragon in a generation, the CCP can no longer rely on trotting out the old Communist lines that once placated the masses as its increasingly sophisticated and educated populace no longer believe it. What the CCP has found as a substitute in motivating and rallying the public behind a uniting cause is to use nationalism as a basis to underpin Chinese identity and enable the CCP to continue with its agenda. The trouble comes though when its time to rein in the masses once their spleen has been opened to vent against a common foe (usually either Japan*, Taiwan or the US) before it either jeopardises foreign relations and trade, leads to war or – what the CCP fear the most – brings down the central communist Government.

* – The 2005 anti-Japanese demonstrations are one such notable example where the powers that be initially supported and allowed the masses to protest, before deciding to clamp down on the protests a month later as they were starting to impact negatively on China’s trade relationship with Japan and China’s image abroad.

The book clearly details and explains the many push-pull factors and balancing efforts the CCP and its many and various wings have to manipulate in order to achieve internal unity and stability whilst at the same time not jeopardise its foreign relations and trade on which the economy relies on to grow, as the CCP well know once the economy dips and jobs become scarce, the conditions become ripe for civil unrest which is the worst case scenario for the CCP.

Shirk’s book also looks at the power structures and hierarchy of the various branches of the CCP and China’s all-powerful military, whom the CCP know they must appease lest there be any military revolt.

Chinese – Fragile Superpower does a thorough job of explaining and detailing the many domestic and foreign issues which the CCP must manage to keep the world’s most populous, and 3rd largest (both physically and economically) nation progressing without disintegrating as the world is more intertwined than ever and China and the US, as the book demonstrates, are intricately connected so that if one economy collapses the other will too, and with that a massive black eye or worse for the world as a whole.

Now that China has been opened and its economy set rolling it simply cannot turn back. The CCP know this all too well and now are more fragile and paranoid than ever to keep the lid on firmly so that they stay in control.

A fascinating book and must-read for anyone interested in China, US-Chinese relations, China’s relations with its neighbours, and China’s many problems and issues with its huge, dynamic and diverse population.

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Will South Korea eventually have a higher GDP per capita than Japan?

November 29, 2009

Will South Korea eventually have a higher GDP per capita than Japan?

Most people reading this question would have no trouble answering almost immediately with an emphatic No! Some would probably snort or chuckle at the mere suggestion but as time goes on and – if North Korea doesn’t collapse in the foreseeable future – I think answering Yes isn’t all that far-fetched considering a number of variables at play in modern Japan and South Korea.

First, let’s look at the current GDP per capita figures for both Japan and South Korea. Surely, Japan’s miles ahead of South Korea, it’s one of the richest countries in the world after all! Well, the truth is that Japan was one of the richest countries in the world and that since its over decade long slowdown it has never fully regained its feet nor found significant strategies to improve its rut. The most recent figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and CIA World Factbook indicate that Japan has a Gross Domestic Product at purchasing power parity per capita (in US dollars) of $34,166, $34,099 and $34,000 respectively, placing Japan as only the 24th, 18th and 28th richest country in the world respectively. These figures came as huge shock to me as I’ve known for a long time that Japan has had an extended rut, but I never foresaw just how significant that rut has been. I still thought that Japan was still one of the ten richest countries in the world, if not surely in the top 15. But, as you can see I was wrong.

Back in 1990, according to World Bank and CIA World Factbook figures, Japan was the ninth richest country in the world with a GDP (at PPP) per capita of $24,430. Whereas, South Korea’s GDP per capita was a much more humble $6,153 being ranked all the way down at #48. Just less that twenty years ago, South Korea was nearly four times comparatively poorer than Japan was!

Now, let’s have a look at South Korea’s current GDP (at PPP) per capita figures to determine just how big a gap still exists between Japan and South Korea economically. South Korea’s current GDP (at PPP) per capita figures come out as $27,692, $27,939,and $27,600 according to the IMF, World Bank and CIA World Factbook respectively. That places South Korea at 33rd, 24th, and 39th on the world’s richest nations totem poles respectively, and just nine, six, and eleven positions behind Japan according to the figures calculated by the IMF, World Bank and CIA.

This is a tremendous improvement in the past twenty years on South Korea’s behalf and an incredible bridging on what was a huge gap between Japan and South Korea. South Korea was, on average, $18,277 ‘poorer’ than Japan in 1990 compared being on average to just $6,474, $6,160 and $6,400 ‘poorer’ now depending on whoever’s stats you prefer. At this rate, South Korea should overtake Japan sometime within the next decade! Well, let’s not just yet get ahead of ourselves …

Regardless, this is a phenomenal improvement in South Korea’s relative wealth compared with Japan’s, especially considering both countries experienced the devastating Asian Financial Crisis of the late ’90s. If these stats are anything to go by, it seems to show that South Korea managed to ride out the storm and keep on moving about after the AFC whereas Japan has just never been the same.

Now I’m no economist, far from it. Despite having to take two year’s worth of economics classes at uni I’d be buggered if I remember the difference between macroeconomics and microeconomics, and all those charts we used to draw and analyse seemed more like an educated guess than scientific analysis to me. But, nevertheless these figures are interesting and somewhat compelling, despite knowing some of the inevitable questions , queries and disputes to be raised from more economically-minded individuals on this analysis:

These figures just reflect what happens when you compare the growth of a nation with high growth rates moving from a developing to a developed economiy as opposed to a firmly developed economy which has stabilised and plateaued.

- Well, you’re most likely right there. Japan, too, was once a developing country with high growth rates relying largely on an export-oriented economy with its highly skilled, hardworking labour force. South Korea followed and expanded on Japan’s business model to get to where it is today where it competes and seemingly more frequently beats its longer established Japanese rivals, who they not so long ago sought to emulate. South Korea did indeed receive significant capital enumerations and labour skills training from the Japanese during the Park Chung-hee era to help kickstart its economy, and indeed Korea would not be where it is today without this assistance, and a lot of assistance from other nations – in particular, the US – during its economic developing period following the Korean War.

The more critical question will be whether South Korea can continue to expand on its growth and economy, and manage to stabilise – which it inevitably will* do at some point -at a higher economic plane than Japan.

* – a country which is effectively an island (thanks to North Korea) with a rapidly aging workplace, one of the lowest birth rates in the world (though Japan’s is darn low too), an ethnically homogeneous nation displaying growing pains at allowing a larger proportion of non-locals in, and being right near a nation in China with all the economic benefits for growth (a huge, still largely untapped rural labour force that will work for peanuts; an ever-growing, ever-affluent , ever-consuming, educated and hardworking middle class;  furtheringly sophisticated technology and consumer goods and a huge landmass) will surely taper South Korea’s growth sooner than later. Unless, of course, South Korea can manage to successfully walk the tightrope and capitalise on China’s growth.

South Korea has a reputation for being slow to change, what with its chaebols and corrupt businessman, its sometimes myopic, outdated viewpoints, its Confucian-based traditions and still significant xenophobia.

- Well, again you make good points. But, again I think everything you mentioned could also be applied to Japan. Furthermore, you could well argue that Japan has had a good two to three to four decade jump on South Korea to assess, adjust and alleviate these issues but in Japan today these issues are to some degree still as relevant now as they were in 1970, 1980 and 1990. Japan has undoubtedly changed and modified its economy, society and psyche over the past few decades, it’s just my belief that South Korea has done so more – granted it started from a much lower base – and also my hunch that South Korea is prepared to continue to do so to a greater degree than Japan will. I base this assumption largely on South Korea’s obsessive drive to learn English and further open its economy and society, and its obsession with being an economic power. Japan’s already been an economic and cultural power, perhaps it won’t be as inclined to put in the hard yards to continue to be an economic and cultural power, particularly with the rising dragon of China just round the corner.

In my view, Japanese society has reached the enlightenment stage when an economy gets to the point that its citizens – in particularly its youth – start questioning whether it’s worth breaking your back and spending all your time working to ‘get ahead’, and start to re-assess just what is important in life. This is largely great news for individuals in Japan but not so good news if you want your economy to grow at any cost, as people become less inclined to do that bit more to ‘get’ ahead when they question whether it will really help them in the long run. Japan, I believe, has increasingly entered this stage over the past decade whereas I believe it’s still a good 5 to 10 years away until South Korean society really starts to question the get ahead and work hard at all costs mentality on a significant level.

How’s South Korea going to grow when its got no kids, everyone’s over sixty and they don’t really want outsiders moving in?

- Again, valid points. But, again points that could equally be leveled at Japan. In fact, whereas South Korea does have one of the lowest birth rates in the world (Japan’s is lower), at least its population is growing whereas Japan’s is already starting to decline.

OK, yes, South Korea AND Japan are two of – if not – the most ethnically homogeneous nations on Earth which have over recent history shown a reluctance to actively use immigration as a ways of growing their populations and economies, instead actively trying technology and ethnic-focused immigration as a means to alleviate these problems. Both countries, according to recent statistics, still have low immigration rates. Japan’s is higher than South Korea’s as South Korea actually has a negative growth rate due to higher numbers of individuals emigrating than immigrating.

Conclusion

So, as these figures show South Korea has indeed experienced a rapid, sustained period of economic growth which is continuing to this day despite the huge setbacks of the Asian Financial Crisis in the late ’90s and recent Global Financial Crisis. Japan, on the other hand, has slowly gone off the boil in terms of its economic development to the degree that South Korea is now within sight of catching up with Japan’s GDP (PPP) per capita with the next decade, something that would have either been laughed at, mocked or scorned by most individuals just 10 or 15 years ago.

Can South Korea catch up with Japan’s GDP per capita? Who really knows. A lot depends on what occurs in South Korea and Japan, a whole series of factors and variables come into play that make it seemingly impossible to accurately predict whether South Korea will indeed one day surpass Japan’s GDP per capita. These variables become all the more complicated when we figure in external factors such as China and North Korea. East Asia is one of the most dynamic, volatile regions of the planet. Who knows just what exactly could develop over the next five years here. There’s an infinite numbers of critical developments or disasters that should significantly effect not just this region but the entire world.

All that said, I do believe that South Korea has significant chance of one day within the next 15 years having a higher GDP per PPP than Japan. How long it would occur for and what happens after that is anyone’s guess.

4 Comments | Asia - where the East is the new West, Asia-Pacific, Economics, Japan, Korea, Statistics | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
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Asia – where the East is the new West

August 11, 2009

You no doubt remember the famous catch-cry from 19th century America,  “Go West, young man!” Well, surely that catch-cry should be amended now to, “Go East, to Asia, young guy and girl!”

If you’ve came across my previous entry written 20 minutes ago, you may be under the mistaken belief that I’m some kind of Asiaphobe, who believes nationalism,  intolerance, conflict and corruption is going to bury Asia before she rises, well frankly, you couldn’t be further from the truth. For I’m a firm believer in Asia – despite all her many and varied challenges – and believe that when this century’s out, it will be in Asia where the best decisions are made, where the young, beautiful and talented flock to, and where the poor, needy and aspiring hope to migrate. It’s already all around now and we’re only into the ninth year of the century!

Now, Asia’s got a mountain of challenges, issues and tensions which will take a mountain of courage, skill, determination and patience to overcome. But, these virtues Asia has in abundance. I’m a firm believer in the human resources of Asia’s rich, varied and hardworking populace. Here is where the bulk of this century’s geniuses, entrepreneurs and stars will be born. This is where hope will be inspired, this is where the poor will rise given the chance. Quite simply, Asia is the 21st century’s America of the 20th century.

But, for this to occur it will require Asia to move together towards a common, united and prosperous future such as that which the bulk of Europe have united towards. But, if you think it’s been nothing but a struggle getting Europe together – with her several millennia of painful history-  you ain’t seen nothing yet. But, Asia needs to do this to prosper and I firmly believe that Asia’s incredibly strong desire to prosper will unite the bulk of the continent – particularly the eastern half – towards a common future of prosperity not seen before. For, it will be – and already is – Asia with the largest, most populous cities and centres of employment, technology and industry. Each year, China and India combine graduate nearly as many university students as the population of Australia. Now, anywhere with that number of educated, intelligent young people entering the workforce has a brilliant future. And, although many are having trouble finding work at present, particularly in China, this is all but a temporary trend, and the Chinese dragon will flex her might again very soon.

As mentioned earlier, Asia faces challenges. And, that’s putting it extremely mildly. Never before in the history of mankind has there been a continent with as many people, with as much as overcrowding, with as much and increasing environmental degradation, with as much as illness and disease, and with as grinding poverty. But, as East Asia has and continues to show, it is possible to overcome such challenges with a committed, focused, industrious, well-educated, talented and hardworking population. China, India and the SE Asian nations of Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia are closely following in the footsteps of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan; and many others will soon follow suit.

Not to overlook West Asia and the Middle East where small nation-states such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are showing the way by taking creative steps and diversifying their wealth for the inevitable decline of oil wealth. Other Middle East nations and nearby nations such as Iran will no doubt eventually follow suit and modernise, whilst also becoming more accommodating and secular to move towards a brighter, more even and prosperous future.

Now, you may think this is pie in the sky optimism – or that I’ve just taken some illicit substances. But, I honestly believe Asia will become a more united, wealthy and prosperous continent matching and eventually overtaking the traditional realms of wealth and influence – Europe and North America, who will not wither, just not prosper at the same exponential rates as Asia.

There will be some areas, some countries and some pockets of Asia in which the bubble of prosperity will not either not arrive or not be realised to the same magnitude as elsewhere for a myriad of reasons. But, the same is true for Europe and North America now. Look at Albania in Europe, or more tellingly, Haiti in North America. Growth and wealth distribution will not be even and for every Asian success story this century, there are bound to be a few Albanias and Haitis to go along with it. But, all in all, the Asian future now is a lot brighter than it has been for the last 400 years.

When I think of my 18-month old nephew in Australia I can’t help but think that his future will be intricately connected with Asia through one way or another. It is Australia that is in a prime position to take full advantage of Asia’s prosperity being the largest Western nation close to Asia. Australia’s future – like my nephew’s – will be increasingly linked with Asia’s, and if Australia is to prosper it needs to strategically and carefully manqge to hitch a ride without jeopardising its own future, core beliefs or prosperity in doing so. I really hope my nephew learns an Asian language at a young age to get a headstart in jumping on the Asian bandwagon. Maybe that’s where I come in as the Korean tutor. ;)

Make no mistake, the future is Asian. If you have kids, get them learning an Asian language, if you have money look to Asia for opportunities to increase it, if you have nothing going look towards Asia, perhaps it can give you a job or opportunity you never thought existed. That’s what it did to me six years ago. Now, I’ve just got to be more pro-active and work on this opportunity I’ve been provided in the most exciting and dynamic corner of the planet.

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Nationalism in Asia – Can Asia learn from 20th century Europe’s mistakes?

August 11, 2009

Anyone whose spent time in Asia or studied Asian nations – be it East Asian nations such as Japan, South Korea and China; SE Asian nations such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam; or Southern and Western Asian nations such as India, Pakistan and Iran (and not to mention more extreme nations such as Myanmar and North Korea) – will notice that a common thread which runs through most Asian nations – be they Buddhist, Communist, Islamic or atheist – is a strong sense of national identity often to levels resembling nationalistic Europe of the early- and mid- 20th century.

Asian nationalism often revolves around the main – or until recently in ethnically homogeneous nations such as Japan and South Korea, essentially only – ethnic group, whereby children are often taught and in many cases indoctrinated to foster a strong love of country, (majority) ethnic and national identity. A shot of national identity and pride may be good in small doses to foster a co-operative, harmonious and communal society. But, when this national identity and pride is indoctrinated to levels that excludes others – be they native-born residents of minority ethnicity, migrants or foreign nationals, that’s when the slope gets a bit slippery. If all your neighbours feel the same way with the same sense of strong national pride in a vast yet crowded and increasingly powerful and influential continent that’s when things start to look increasingly troublesome for the future. And, when the nationalism takes the form of resentment, animosity, intolerance or downright hatred towards your neighbours for past, present or perceived future atrocities, that’s when things feel like they’re starting to resemble a warm summer’s day in 1914′s  Sarajevo.

Don’t think for a minute that the West is immune from its own version of nationalism – these links with provide examples of ethnic-based nationalism/conflict in Western nations: example 1 from the US, example 2 from the UK, and example 3 from Australia. The main difference between these examples and the situation throughout most of Asia is that in the vast majority of secular Western nations, nationalism is not indoctrinated by the State, is not actively taught in school curriculum, not as widespread and no longer institutionalised yet, still unfortunately largely existent but in many cases punished.

The situation is quite different in many parts of Asia however. Let’s look at the multi-ethnic, multi-religious state of Malaysia for example, where the majority Muslim Malay population are advantaged through the Bumiputera policy at the expense of other ethnic groups – most notably Chinese- and Indian-Malaysians. Or, South Korea, yes South Korea not North Korea, where snippets of Korean nationalism – often taking the form of anti-American or anti-Japanese sentiment yet curiously rarely significant anti-Chinese sentiment – can be found expressed here and here.

Now, let’s briefly cast the spotlight over to China who right now have been actively bullying a sovereign Western nation, Australia, into not allowing a film by Uighur activist, Rebiya Kadeer, to be shown at an International Film Festival in Melbourne. Not to mention the litany of sins committed under State-sponsored oppression of minority ethnic and religious groups within China most notably in Tibet and Xinjiang. And, that’s just the tip of the iceberg believe me.

Anyone whose followed the news since the Partition of 1947 will know the bitter, simmering, hot/cold conflict between Muslim-majority Pakistan and Hindu-majority India has already spawned four wars, numerous terrorist attacks and proliferation of nuclear weapons by both parties. The heart of this ongoing conflict lies largely along nationalist and religious lines, with the threat of increased conflict ever present. It’s in the world’s best interests that the 2nd most populous and 12th richest, and the 6th most populous and 48th richest nations never go to war again!

Not too mention the continued simmering bitterness, envy, tension, animosity and hatred towards Japan as a direct result of – and perceived lack of repatriations since – Japanese atrocities committed during the first half of the 20th century until 1945 throughout East and large parts of Southeast Asia, most notably in China and Korea, where decades-old, past Japanese atrocities are still actively taught and fresh on peoples’ minds. This bitterness is also exacerbated by the belief that Japan hasn’t made enough acknowledgments and repatriations both financially and emotionally for these past atrocities.  To this, Japan hasn’t helped the situation by occasionally revising its school texts to either distort, downplay, or put a positive spin on Japanese occupation and subsequent Japanese atrocities, whilst occasionally displaying strong insensitivity by having leaders attend the Yasukuni War Shine honouring Japanese soldiers and criminals, often architects of the most heinous atrocities. The still pronounced anti-Japanese sentiment in China and South Korea occasionally bubbles to the surface such as during the ongoing Dokdo/Takeshima dispute between South Korea and Japan. As China continues its progression to superpower status and with the global power shift that comes with this, you just have to hope that China, Japan, and South Korea in the middle, can find a way to resolve the issues of the past and look towards a prosperous, peaceful future for the sake not only of themselves but the entire world.

This post has only barely scratched the surface of Asian nationalism with its varying forms, intensity and manifestations. Here’s hoping 21st century Asia can find a way to resolve its many issues and find a way towards a more united, peaceful and prosperous future as this century- and most likely the one or two after -  is Asia’s century and the world cannot continue prosper, or even survive, with a divided, broken Asia. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen and that Asia learns from the lessons Europe learnt the hard way during the 20th century.

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Posted by elcanguro76