Southeast Asia East Asia
myAnmAR
Britain occupies most of Burma by
- The third Anglo-Burmese war
ends in 1886, placing the rest of the
country under Britain. The country
gains independence in 1948
mALAySiA
After both Dutch and Portuguese
colonial rule, modern-day Malaysia
falls under British Malaya by 1824.
The Federation of Malaya, including
Singapore, is formed in 1948, with full
independence in 1957
SingAPoRE
The city is founded in 1819 under the
British East India Company. Becomes
part of the Federation of Malaya in
1948, separating and then gaining
independence in 1965
PhiLiPPinES
A Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898,
the Philippines is ceded to the US
after the Spanish–American War.
Becomes independent in 1946
inDonESiA
Ruled by the Dutch from 1602,
Indonesia declares independence
in 1945. After the four-year
Indonesian War of Independence,
the Netherlands finally recognises its
former colony’s sovereignty
BhutAn
However, India guided its foreign
policy from 1949–
thAiLAnD
Imitated Western societal structure to
deter colonisation
tuRKEy
Formerly the Ottoman Empire, it was
too strong to be taken by any other
imperial power
ChinA
Too large to be conquered, although
parts of it were controlled by other
countries at various points in history
JAPAn
To avoid colonisation, Japan
revolutionised its social and political
structures under the Meiji Restoration
of 1868
AfghAniStAn
Overpowered British attempts
at conquest
iRAn
Persia amassed a huge debt to
European banks that it was unable to
repay. The British and the Russians
took control of Persian revenue
streams for a period of time to settle
the debt, but the country was never
formally colonised
m ongoLiA
Modern-day Mongolia is controlled
by Qing China from 1691 till the
Qing Dynasty’s collapse in 1911.
Independence is declared but
conflict with China prevents the
establishment of the republic
until 1924
tAiwAn
Annexed by the Qing Dynasty in 1683,
Taiwan is ceded to Japan in 1895,
after the First Sino-Japanese War.
After WWII, the Chinese Civil War
resumes, with the communists forcing
the government of the Republic of
China to relocate to Taiwan. Japan
renounces territorial rights to Taiwan
in 1952, effectively marking the start
of the country’s independence. China
continues to claim sovereignty over
the island
19481957196519461945 19241952
C ountRiES thAt wERE nEVER CoLoniSED
INDONESIA
SINGAPORE
MYANMAR
MALAYSIA
PHILIPPINES
MONGOLIA
TAIWAN
CHINA
BHUTAN
JAPAN
AFGHANISTAN
THAILAND
IRAN
TURKEY
inDEPEnDEnCE AChiEVED inDEPEnDEnCE AChiEVED