Asian_Geographic_Issue_4_2017

(John Hannent) #1
2001
China joins the World
Trade Organization

2003
North Korea withdraws
from the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty.
Nepalese Maoist rebels
and the government
declare a ceasefire,
after nearly a decade of
bloodshed and failed
peace talks

1989
Vietnamese troops
withdraw from Cambodia.
The pro-democracy
student-led Tiananmen
Square protests break
out in China

1995
The Nepalese
communist government
is dissolved, which
is met with a Maoist
revolt aimed at
abolishing the
Nepalese monarchy,
leaving thousands of
people dead

1985
North Korea joins
the international
Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty,
to be accused less
than a decade later of
violating its terms


China
PoPulation 1.35 billion
PResident: Xi JinPinG
In 1949, the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
came into power after defeating the nationalist
opposition, which withdrew to Taiwan. Mainland
China operated under the authoritarian socialism
of founder Mao Zedong, until the country shifted
its economic policies to adopt a capitalist market
economy. However, the economic sea change
has not translated to the political sphere, which
is still dominated by communist ideology.
Xi Jinping became president in 2012, and is
seen to be detracting from collectivism.
However, he still rejects Western democracy,
and clamps down on any criticism of the party.

Laos
PoPulation 6.4 million
PResident: bounnhanG voRaChith
Laos was a French colony until 1953, after which
the country was gripped by conflict between the
communist party, Pathet Lao, and the royalists,
until the latter was overthrown in 1975. With the
communist party in power, Laos was isolated
for decades, until the collapse of the Soviet
Union in the 1990s. Economic reforms were
implemented, but the country remains poor and
reliant on foreign aid. The current president
is Bounnhang Vorachith – head of the Lao
People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

RUSSIAN FEDERATION

CHINA

NORTH
KOREA

VIETNAM

LAOS

North Korea
PoPulation 24.5 million
suPReme leadeR: kim JonG-un
North Korea remains the most closed-off
society in the world. After WWII, northern Korea
surrendered to the Soviets, while those in
southern Korea surrendered to the Americans;
the states were separated along the 38th parallel
of latitude. South Korea’s economy flourished
under a string of capitalist dictatorships and
the country eventually became a democracy.
North Korea remains communist, ruled by the
same family for three generations: Kim Il-sung,
followed by his son Kim Jong-il, and now the
grandson Kim Jong-un. North Korea continues its
militaristic policy, generating much international
anxiety about its nuclear programme.

Communist Countries

Former Communist
Countries

leGends
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