Asian Century

China and India have the two largest populations in the world, and are expected to grow economically. (see note)

The Asian Century is a term used to describe the belief that, if certain demographic and economic trends persist, the 21st century will be dominated by Asian politics and culture, similarly to how the 20th century is often called the American Century, and the 19th century the British Century.

Origin

The phrase Asian Century arose in the mid to late 1980s, and is attributed to a 1988 meeting with People's Republic of China (PRC) leader Deng Xiaoping and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Prior to this, it made an appearance in a 1985 US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing. It has been subsequently reaffirmed by Asian political leaders, and is now a popularly used term in the media.

Reasons

Most of the speculation as to a future Asian century is based on population growth and economic growth forecasts, as well as the growth that has already occurred in much of Asia. While much emphasis is focused on the growing power of China, India, and Japan, the term Asian Century generally refers to all growth in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Russia may also be considered a rising economy in Asia, but it is usually not being referred to in the use of this term.

Demographics

Further information: World population

Population growth in Asia is expected to continue through at least the first half of the 21st century. Targeting 4 billion persons in the beginning of the 21st century, the Asian population is predicted to grow to more than 5 billion by 2050. While its percent of the world population is not expected to greatly change, North American and European shares of the global population are expected to decline. This is significant since larger populations invariably increase military, economic, and political clout in the world.

Economics

Further information: Economy of Asia

One of the busiest shopping streets in the world, Nanjing Road in Shanghai is an example of economic growth in mainland China, and its large consumer base.

One major reason for the belief in a coming Asian Century is the remarkable economic growth in Asia, and the continuing growth rates. Since China's economic reforms in the late 1970s (in farm privatization) and early 1990s (in most cities), the Chinese economy has enjoyed two and half decades of economic growth rates between 8 and 10%. The Indian economy began a similar ascent at the end of 1980s and early 1990s, and has averaged around 4% during this period, though growing slightly over 8% in 2005, and hitting 9.2% in 2006.

Both of these developments involved policy of a degree of managed liberalisation of the economy as well as a turning outwards of the economy towards globalization (both exports and attracting inward investment). The magnitude of this liberalisation and globalisation is still subject to debate. They were part of conscious decisions by key political leaders, especially in India and the PRC.

Nariman Point in Mumbai, India.

Also, the populations of the two countries offer a potential market of over two and a quarter billion. The development of the internal consumer market in these two countries has been a major basis for economic development. This has enabled much higher national growth rates for mainland China and India in comparison to Japan, the EU and even the USA. The international cost advantage on goods and services, based on cheaper labor costs, has enabled these two countries to exert a global competitive pressure.

The trend for greater Asian economic dominance has also been based on the extrapolations of recent historic economic trends. Goldman Sachs, in its BRIC economic forecast, highlighted the trend towards mainland China becoming the largest and India the 2nd largest economies by the year 2050 in terms of GDP. The report also predicted the type of industry that each nation would dominate, leading some to deem mainland China 'the industrial workshop of the world' and India 'one of the great service societies'.

By 2050, the East Asian and South Asian economies will have increased by over 20 times. With that comes a rise in Human Development Index, the index used to measure the standards of living. India's HDI will approach .8. East Asia's would approach .94 or fairly close to the living standards of the western nations such as the EU and the US. This would mean that it would be rather difficult to determine the difference in wealth of the two. Because of East Asian and Indian populations, their economy would be very large. In East Asia's case, would perhaps surpass the western nation's total economy.

Construction projects

File:Shanghai Center Dragon.jpg

The future Shanghai Tower looms over the current SWFC in this artistic visual.

It is projected that the most groundbreaking construction projects will take place in Asia within the approaching years. As a symbol of economic strength and power, super tall skyscrapers have been erected in East/South East Asia, more projects are currently being conceived and begun (more than in any other region of the world today). Proof are the Petronas Towers of Kuala Lumpur, the Shanghai World Financial Center, International Finance Centre in PRC, Taipei 101 in Taiwan to name a few. Future buildings promise to be taller, like the Shanghai Tower. Even more daring is Japan's Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid planned to be 12 times bigger than the pyramid of Giza, and the Pagcor Tower in Bagong Nayong Pilipino E-City in Metro Manila as to be the tallest observation tower in the world.

The Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid

Culture

Further information: Culture of Asia

Culturally, the Asian century is symbolized by Hong Kong genre films, Japanese Animation and the Korean Wave. The awareness of the different Asian cultures may be a part of a much more culturally aware world, as proposed in the Clash of Civilizations thesis. Equally, the affirmation of Asian cultures has an impact on the identity politics of Asians in Asia and outside in the Asian diasporas.

Though the use of English continues to spread, Asian languages are also becoming more popular to teach and study outside of the continent. The study of Chinese has recently gained greater attention in the United States, owing to a growing belief in the economic advantages of knowing it. It is also being encouraged through PRC's support of Confucius Institutes, which have opened in numerous nations to teach the Chinese language and culture [5].

Politics

The cargo of a container ship from East Asia being unloaded at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai, India. Increasing economic integration of Asian countries has also brought them closer politically.

The global political position of China and to a lesser extent India has risen in international bodies and amongst the world powers, leading the United States and European Union to become more active in the process of engagement with these two countries. People's Republic of China is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Although India is not a permanent member, it is possible that it will become one or at the least gain a more influential position. Japan is also attempting to become a permanent member [6], though the attempts of both are opposed by other Asian countries (i.e. India's bid is opposed by Pakistan and resisted by China; Japan's bid is opposed by South Korea and resisted by North Korea and China).

An Asian regional bloc may be further developed in the 21st century around ASEAN and other bodies on the basis of free trade agreements. However, there is some political concern amongst the national leaderships of different Asian countries about PRC's hegemonic ambitions in the region. Another new organization, the East Asian Summit, could also possibly create an EU like trade zone.

The Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov encouraged the idea of a triple alliance between Russia, the PRC and India first formulated by Indian strategist Madhav Das Nalapat in 1983 [7], and supported the idea of a multipolar world. With the November 2006 visit of Hu Jintao to India, the idea seems to be gaining some momentum.

The political future in Asia, whether more united or more polarized, is unclear. Yet most if not all forecasts predict the PRC and India to be amongst the major powers if not super powers of the 21st century.

Criticism

Despite forecasts that predict the rising economic and political strength of Asia, the idea of an Asian Century has faced criticism. This has included the possibility that the continuing high rate of growth could lead to political upheavals, economic slumps, and environmental problems, especially in mainland China [8]. Others point out that the 21st century will be multipolar, and no one country or continent will have such a concentration of influence. Even in the "American" 20th century there was still a balance of power with the British and other European colonial empires from 1900 until 1945, and with the Soviet Union from 1945 until 1991.

See also

• 
  East Asia Summit
• 
  Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
• 
  Asia Cooperation Dialogue
• 
  Free trade areas

• China's peaceful rise
• Chindia
• East Asian Tigers
• Indosphere
• Pax Sinica
• Siju
• Sinosphere

References

• "Security and Development Assistance" authored in 1985 by US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, published by US GPO
• Population Reference Bureau
• "Next hot language to study: Chinese" by Amanda Paulson. CS Monitor, Nov. 8, 2005.
• "US to Open First Confucius Institute" by chinanews.com, March 8, 2005.
• "Analysis: India's Security Council seat bid" by Ethirajan Anbarasan. BBC News Sept. 22, 2004.
• "U.S. to Back Japan Security Council Bid" by Glenn Kessler. Washington Post March 18, 2005.
• "ASEAN and India Seal Trade, Cooperation Pacts With Eye on "Asian Century"" AFP Nov. 30.
• "Asian powers reach for new community" by Sarah Buckley. BBC News. Dec. 14, 2005.
• "Russia-China-India: A Strategic Triangle" by T T Poulose. Asian Affairs.

External links

Speeches and Political Statements

• 2003 Speech by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee

growth 2005 Speech by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

• "Strong China-India relations to usher in true Asian century: Premier Wen" Comment by PRC Premier Wen Jiabao
• "President Addresses Asia Society, Discusses India and Pakistan" US President George Bush calls 21st Century not Asian Century, but Freedom's Century
• "India's power is infinite" PRC Commerce Minister Bo Xilai the future growth and cooperation of India and mainland China, 2006

Forecasts

• NIC 2020 Mapping the Global Future
• BRIC Thesis-pdf
• "Welcome To The Asian Century..." by Jeffrey Sachs

Criticism

• "China, India Superpower? Not so Fast!"
• "Asian Century" an editorial contrasting the American Century versus the Asian Century.