GEOG101: World Regional Geography

Europe had economic inroads but never controlled China to the extent that it colonized other places in the region. China was more technologically advanced than other societies. They had established transportation networks and were using paper and gunpowder before the Europeans arrived. They also recognized the necessity of clean water to avoid the spread of disease.

However, Britain gained a technological advantage during the Industrial Revolution. The British were able to produce goods more quickly than the Chinese, and they pushed the government to allow them to sell opium throughout Chinese society. The Chinese government attempted to destroy this market to counter the destructive effects of opium on their population. However, the British gained the upper hand when they defeated China during the Opium Wars.

The Qing Empire ceded Hong Kong Island to the British as a condition of the 1842 Treaty of Nanking (Nanjing), following the First Opium War. In 1860 the British colony of Hong Kong expanded to include the Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutters Island after the Second Opium War. In 1898, the British obtained a 99-year lease on the New Territories, which includes the area north of Kowloon and the outlying islands of Lantau, Lamma, and others.

Portugal, Germany, France, Japan, and Russia also had a colonial influence on China. Portugal predated the British when they rented the island of Macau from China to use as a trading post. They gained full colonial control of the outpost after the Opium Wars. Trade motivated Portugal and Spain to reach East and Southeast Asia during the 16th century, followed by the Netherlands, Britain, and France. Japan occupied much of Southeast Asia during World War II, including Thailand.

We see several examples of how the colonial powers influenced the culture of East and Southeast Asia. For example, as in India and Pakistan, English is a recognized language in Malaysia and an official language in Singapore (both former British colonies). Catholicism (brought by the Spanish and Portuguese) remains the dominant religion of the Philippines and Timor-Leste.

French is spoken in Laos, and Portuguese is an official language in Timor-Leste. You will also hear Indonesians use several Dutch words when you travel there. Figure 9.14 shows the Municipal Theatre that Ferret Eugene, the French architect, built in Ho Chi Minh City in the French Colonial architectural style in 1897.

While China did not colonize Southeast Asia, it has influenced its culture. Of those who live overseas, more Chinese live in Southeast Asia than anywhere else. For example, more than 75% of Singapore's population and nearly 25% of Malaysia's population are ethnically Chinese. Many of these immigrants fled the political division in mainland China from 1912–1949. They have maintained ties to their homeland and have created economic connections during the age of globalization. Their ability to speak Chinese and the language of their adopted country facilitates business opportunities.