Geography Regional: Southeast Asia

Geographical and astronomical location affects the conditions of a climate in an area. Southeast Asia region which is located at 28°N–11°S and 93°E–141°E. Geographically, it is located between the Pacific Ocean (east) and Indian Ocean (south and west) as well as the Asian Continent and the Australian Continent. This geographical location is included in the area crossed by the equator with a tropical climate and Myanmar is the only country in Southeast Asia that has a subtropical climate. Myanmar is located between 9°N and 29°N, and 92°E and 102°E, this causes the southern part of Myanmar to have a tropical climate while the northern part of Myanmar has a subtropical climate.

The Southeast Asian region, which is mostly tropical, is also influenced by the two flanking continents, namely the Asian continent and the Australian continent. Winds that blow from the deserts of Australia and mainland Asia influence the area it passes through, including trade winds that blow from the subtropics to the equator. The difference in air pressure between the two regions then causes the formation of two dominant seasons, namely the rainy season and the dry season. Temperatures are generally warm, although cooler in the highlands. This similarity in climatic conditions has an almost equal impact on the diversity of natural wealth in the Southeast Asian Region. However, in the early days some marine and forest products could be found in certain areas only. These heydays have made Indonesia, especially the eastern part, the only source of cloves, nutmeg and mace in the world.

There are large to small ecological niches in the Southeast Asia Region, so it is normal for the world community to regard this area as a regional unit that is rich in various things. There are several differences in the physical environment of land and islands in the Southeast Asian region. Geographical features can be seen from the dominant land landscapes such as long rivers that disgorge in the highlands, separating Southeast Asia from China and Northwest India. The second geographical feature is the vast lowlands, separated by forested hills and mountains. The presence of mountains with active volcanic activity provides fertile plains that are suitable for rice-growing ethnic groups such as Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Vietnam. The third landscape feature is the existence of a long coastline. As a strong maritime base, the thriving community in the region can connect Southeast Asia with India and China.

Southeast Asia is located at the confluence of three mega plates, namely Eurasia, Indo-Australia and the Pacific. Physiographic conditions in this area are almost similar to conditions in Central America, the island and peninsula areas are fractured flanking solid land and filled with high mountains, deep valleys with stunning landscapes. Ridd's hypothesis (Stauffer & Gobbett (1972)) says that the Southeast Asian region from northern Thailand and northeastern Vietnam then descends to Kalimantan and Java is one part of the Gondwana continent which was divided during the Mesozoic. He added that the Southeast Asia region rotates clockwise around 45o, the shape of this fraction corresponds to mainland India in the west and Australia in the east.

Southeast Asia is in a subduction zone (Hall, 2017). Including part of the Pacific Rim as well as part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, this causes dynamic geological activity (seismic and volcanic) as well as high hazard potential. It was recorded that in 2004 an underwater earthquake off the westernmost coast of Indonesia generated a tsunami in the Indian Ocean with the death of more than 230,000 people along the Sumatran coastline in Indonesia to eastern Africa, Somalia. Occurred in the 18th century, precisely in 1815, the eruption of Mount Tambora in the east of Java Island or known as the Lesser Sunda caused changes in the world's climate. This event is known as the year without a summer because the sky is covered with thick clouds which then has an impact on crop failure, the economy slumps and hunger is everywhere.

Mountains that line the Southeast Asian region are part of the Pacific Circum and the Mediterranean Circum. The Southeast Asian archipelago from Indonesia, the Philippines to mainland Indo-China is an active volcanic area with the highest mountain ranges such as Mount Merapi (Indonesia), Mount Kerinci (Indonesia), Mount Krakatau (Indonesia), Mount Mayaon (Philippines) etc. Even in one country, namely Indonesia, there are 127 active volcanoes spread over 7000 km along the volcanic belt from Aceh, North Sulawesi, Java, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku.

Some mountains in Southeast Asia consist of old folds such as the Bilauktaung Mountains (Thailand), Annam Mountains (Vietnam), Titiwangsa Mountains (Malaysia), Bintan Mountains (Malaysia), Muller Mountains (Indonesia) and Schwaner Mountains (Indonesia). In addition, mountains are originating from young folds such as the Arakan Yoma Mountains (Myanmar), Bukit Barisan Mountains (Indonesia), Crocker Mountains (Malaysia), Kapuas Hulu Mountains (Malaysia), Sudirman Mountains (Indonesia), Jaya Wijaya Mountains (Indonesia) etc.

In addition to land features, the waters in this area are very diverse, ranging from freshwaters such as rivers, lakes, and swamps to ocean water. Large rivers influence the lives of the surrounding community, such as for life, irrigation, traffic infrastructure, mining, and recreation areas. The maritime islands of Southeast Asia range in size from the largest such as Kalimantan, Sumatra, Java, and Luzon to small dots on the map (especially Indonesia, which has 17,000 islands). Access to the interior of this island is not easy because it is covered by a large forest so that the people who inhabit the island are accustomed to using canoes through waterways.

In terms of location, Southeast Asia is classified as a strategic area. This area is like a bridge connecting the Asian region with Australia, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean as well as the western world and the eastern world. Often this area becomes an active mobilization route as well as a transit point in international trade. Several tourist destinations in Southeast Asia have even become world-class tourist destinations that can become an economic source for the surrounding community.

Natural Hazards in Southeast Asia

Most regions are united because of their instability, not only geopolitically but physically. If you have read material about Southeast Asia physically then you will come across the term ring of fire, this is a term that refers to a large area of ​​high tectonic activity along the Pacific Ocean basin. In Southeast Asia, this tectonic activity has shaped the physical landscape and presents the potential for disasters, especially volcanic eruptions. This area is a relic of the history of volcanic eruptions, one of which was a devastating eruption in Indonesia in 1815, namely the eruption of Mount Tambora which was able to cool global temperatures and caused crop failures in France and Egypt. Not only Tambora, Mount Krakatau, which is located between the islands of Java and Sumatra, also erupted with a powerful explosion that caused tens of thousands of people to die and it took several years for the weather to return to its normal pattern. The sound of the eruption of Krakatoa is the loudest in modern history, even this sound can be heard from a distance of 4,800 km (3000 miles).

Along with the islands of Indonesia, the Australian Plate is subducting under the Eurasian plate, this forms a subduction zone to the west of Sumatra Island. In 2004, this subduction caused a massive underwater earthquake that killed as many as 230,000 people. Tsunamis can occur due to displacement of water and can be caused by various factors such as landslides, meteor impacts, or underwater volcanic eruptions. We are not able to prevent this disaster from happening but we can prepare by planning land use, public education in responding to disasters that occur. The international community created a tsunami warning system for the Indian Ocean after the 2004 Tsunami which caused many casualties.

Disasters that often occur in Southeast Asia are tropical cyclones, to be precise in the Northwest Pacific Ocean. Most storms form in the summer between June and November and the islands of the Philippines are the areas most frequently affected. Tropical cyclones are storms of great strength with an average radius of 150 to 200 km. This cyclone is formed in the vast ocean which generally has a warm sea surface temperature of more than 26.5 degrees Celsius. Winds rotating near the center have velocities of more than 63 km/h and the diameter of the eye of the cyclone ranges from 10 to 100 km. A tropical storm can last between three to eighteen days because the energy of a tropical cyclone is obtained from warm oceans, the cyclone will disappear when it moves and enters cold waters or approaches land. The intensity of the formation of cyclonic storms is more common due to climate change, this is conveyed by several researchers because warmer sea temperatures will trigger the formation of storms. A team of researchers from the Philippines studied the formation of these storms holistically by investigating past cyclonic storms using geological and geophysical techniques and then computerizing them to predict future cyclones.

Territorial Configuration

Southeast Asia is one part of the Southeast Asian continent which consists of 11 countries including (1) Vietnam, (2) Cambodia, (3) Thailand, (4) Myanmar, (5) Malaysia, (6) Brunei Darussalam, (7) Singapore, (8) Indonesia, (9) Timor Leste, (10) Philippines, and (11) Laos. Astronomically, Southeast Asia is located between 29°N - 11°S and 93°E - 141°E with a land area of ​​about 5,000,000 km². According to (Marisha, 2020), the mainland of the Southeast Asian region is in the form of a peninsula known as Indo-China which forms mountains, hills, highlands, and lowlands which are an important part of a place of residence and activity for its inhabitants. When viewed geographically, the Southeast Asia region is located between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, as well as between the Asian Continent and the Australian Continent.

Southeast Asia is also located on three major plates of the earth, namely Eurasia, Indo-Australia, and the Pacific. Thus, in this area stretches the mountains which are part of the Pacific Circum and Mediterranean Circum, especially in Indonesia and the Philippines. This has a positive impact on soil fertility in the area, thus supporting agricultural activities. Even so, the Southeast Asia region also has a high potential for disaster due to the unstable earth's crust due to moving tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, or earthquakes.

The shape of a country can affects the condition and survival of its population. For example, Indonesia, which is currently improving the layout of its territory with the Transmigration program by moving residents on the island of Java (Pulau Inti) to other islands. Political Geographers have now identified 4 Territorial Configurations in Southeast Asia, including:

A. the Compact States

Has an area shaped almost like a circle or a rectangle? The advantage of a country that has a Compact form like this is that the country will be very easy to regulate because it will not be far from the center of the country so it will not be divided. An example of a compact country in Southeast Asia is Cambodia.

B. Protruded or Extended

It has a substantial area because it is elongated, one of which looks more outward or separates itself from the center of the country. Examples of countries that are protruded or extended in Southeast Asia are Myanmar and Thailand.

C. The Elongated States or Attenuated

It has an elongated and slender area. Countries that have the Elongated States or attenuated areas have problems in terms of distance, especially in terms of transportation. In addition, the potential for other problems will be much higher because the center of the country is quite far away. An example of a country in the form of Elongated States or attenuated in Southeast Asia is Vietnam.

A. Fragmented

Has an area in the form of an archipelago consisting of two or more territorial units and is separated by other areas or bodies of water. Examples of countries in the form of fragmented are Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste.

To strengthen and enhance social cooperation between countries in Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian region formed an organization of regional countries called ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)

Culture and Religion

Southeast Asia is inhabited by various ethnic groups. Each ethnic group has strong ties even though they are separated by national boundaries. For example, the Vietnamese tribe in addition to living in Vietnam also settled in Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. In addition, according to (Marisha, 2020), Southeast Asian residents are part of a nation that belongs to the Malayan Mongoloid race. In its development, the Malayan Mongoloid race received a lot of cultural influences from India, China, and Arabia (Gujarat). So, it is undeniable that several Southeast Asian countries have the same culture in terms of how to dress, language, food, or traditional celebrations. In terms of language, for example, in Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia, Malay is used. Even so, in the Philippines, the Malay language is the same, although it is not dominant.

The similarities in culture and customs that occur between countries in Southeast Asia cannot be separated from the process of population migration that occurred long before the state was formed. The assimilation of social and cultural life between migrants and residents occurs naturally and then becomes a strong tie for the new community which is of course difficult to prevent from using the culture of their ancestors. Even so, until now there are still frequent demands on each other between cultures by the community due to differences in interpretations of these cultural origins, for example, Malaysia and Indonesia which have similar or similar cultures. Of course, it is necessary to find a solution so that there will be no prolonged conflict so that the cooperation that has occurred can be returned intact to strengthen the more harmonious relations of ASEAN countries to face the future.

In addition to its varied culture, Southeast Asia also has different religions according to the beliefs they believe in. This difference in belief occurs due to several factors, such as the presence of immigrants from India which led to the entry of Buddhism and Hinduism in Southeast Asia, especially in the countries of Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia which embraced Buddhism with the highest percentage of 90%. In addition, the arrival of traders from Arabia led to the spread of Islam, especially in Indonesia, which until now has reached 88% of adherents. In addition, according to (Iskandar, 2018) in the Philippines itself, the majority of the population is Christian due to the influence of the spread of Catholicism by the Spanish. Catholicism is also practiced by the Vietnamese population although the number is only 10%.

One proof of the religious culture that exists in Southeast Asia is the existence of an archaeological site called Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is a very large complex of religious buildings and was founded in Cambodia in the 12th century. This site is one of the world's famous archaeological sites that was formerly used as a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The carvings found on Angkor Wat tell the story of the Hindu epic or heroic story. But in the 14th century, Buddhism took over part of this kingdom and turned it into a place of worship for Buddhists.

Because it consists of various religions, it is not uncommon for conflicts to occur like what happened in Myanmar. Since 2013, the world has been shocked by the violence perpetrated by Buddhists against a small group of Islamic Minorities living in Rakhine (Northwest Myanmar). This Islamic minority is known as the Rohingya. The Rohingya minority group itself has lived in Myanmar for generations with a total of 1.3 million inhabitants to this day. This Muslim group has never been accepted by the people of Myanmar, not only in terms of rejection of their citizenship but also has long experienced discrimination and acts of violence. This caused at least 200,000 Ronghiya people to flee to refugee camps. Some fled to neighboring countries, namely Thailand. But in 2015, Myanmar's anti-Muslim sentiment leader shut down the overland flight so thousands of Rohingya desperately fled through the Indian Ocean following the coastal route south to the Andaman Sea in the hope that they would reach safer countries such as Thailand, Malaysia. (Which currently has a Rohingya population of around 50,000 people) or even to Indonesia.

Population and Economic :Emerging Market of Southeast Asia

Since 2000, several countries in Southeast Asia have joined the ranks of the rapidly growing world market. Countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia have recently attracted large-scale foreign investment to promote strong economic growth. However, in other respects, the country has a fairly extreme economy, namely the existence of inequality. Other small oil-rich countries such as Brunei Darussalam have higher incomes than the United States. However, comprehensively, Singapore still has the highest income in Southeast Asia, Malaysia ranks 3rd and is followed by Thailand. In addition, Indonesia and the Philippines, which have high population densities, still have low per capita incomes, accounting for about 1/12 of the income generated by Singapore. And lastly, there are Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor Leste which rank at the bottom in terms of emerging markets in Southeast Asia. This is because economically, the country is very different in terms of internal. Population and Economic: Emerging Market of Southeast Asia With per capita income soaring, there is no doubt that Singapore is the economic heart of Southeast Asia. With only 5.7 million inhabitants with an area of only 619 km2, Singapore has succeeded in becoming a central country so that it functions as a major economic node throughout the world. At the same time, geographers also rank Singapore as a top-level world city because it has a large international port that can exert global influence. In addition, Singapore's Changi Airport is consistently ranked as one of the best international airports in the world. Most importantly, Singapore is now a symbol of modernity, the future model of Southeast Asia. The whole world today goes to Singapore just to shop, fly, transact business, invest in real estate or send their children to the number one university there

SEAN is a country that has been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in all sectors for the past two years. In this meeting, we will discuss in more depth the case study regarding ASEAN Regionalism in Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. You can access the following journals as material and some news as additional information. Here's the link:

1.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2020.100129

2.https://www.rsis.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PR200826_Regionalismand-Covid19_v2.pdf

3.(PDF) The ASEAN’s responses to COVID-19: A policy sciences analysis (researchgate.net)

From the following journals, you are given the task of writing a paper report on your analysis of the information data on the response of ASEAN countries in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in various sectors.

Discussion : Maritime Claim in the South China Sea

In the discussion topic at the 6th meeting, we will try to discuss the topic of Maritime claims in the South China Sea. The rule is that you can access material information for discussion at the following article sources:

https: // en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territorial_disputes_in_The_South_China_Sea

Student also can use other reference sources. After study, then you can explain again about the claims in the South China Sea from your point of view and give the reason by limiting the problem of its impact or influence on ASEAN countries around the South China Sea.

Writing about Terms of Reference: Southeast Asian Cultural Diversity, Discussion and Reflection, Further your Understanding

Cultural diversity in the Southeast Asian region is a heritage that must be preserved and preserved because it is very rich and plural. This chapter you will explorer in many references and be able to give a presentation into a short video about cultural diversity in Southeast Asia with duration no more than 10 minutes, you can choose some examples from countries in Southeast Asia and provide valuable experiences for you in getting to know the cultures that exist in the Southeast Asian Region. We hope you get enjoy and had a good experience in this class.

Hello!

After getting to know the basics of Southeast Asia, have you known interesting facts from Southeast Asia? There are at least fourteen interesting facts from Southeast Asia that you should know...

1. Countries get along in cognate

There are 11 countries in one Southeast Asia Region with the same time zone starting from GMT +7. These countries are Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Timor Leste. Even though they are physically located in the Southeast Asian region, some people do not include Timor Leste in the Southeast Asia Region but instead into the Oceania Region for political reasons.

2. Perfect place for vacation

The diversity of geological phenomena in the past has created beautiful reliefs and landscapes for countries in the Southeast Asian Region. In addition to natural tourist destinations, Southeast Asia is also rich in social phenomena ranging from deep history, cultural diversity, and the lives of the people involved in it.

3. The sun shines all year round

Southeast Asia, which is located at the equator, causes the countries to be exposed to the sun and tends to be warm throughout the year, this is suitable for those of you who like to spend time in the sun. However, Southeast Asia still has a wet season between June and October.

4. Southeast Asia is the cheapest

Yes! Southeast Asia is an area that is relatively cheaper when compared to other regions, this will certainly benefit the traveler. Laos is the cheapest country and is relatively friendly for tourists while the country with a more expensive life is owned by Singapore.

5. Has thousands of islands

More than 20,000 islands are stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Indonesia is the owner of most islands with more than 17,000 islands spread out. To maintain the sovereignty of the islands, the Indonesian government actively participates in the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN) forum by registering the islands.

6. Many cruise ship ports

As a country consisting of a mainland country and an archipelagic country, of course, Southeast Asia has its variations in daily activities. To connect water and land activities, the existence of a port is an essential thing. The most popular ports are the ports in Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in Vietnam, and Singapore.

7. Rich in culture and history

Southeast Asia is a country rich in culture and history, much of it influenced by Indian and Chinese culture. Chinese are a minority in several countries in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia and Singapore.

8. Land of shrines and temples

The richness of culture in Southeast Asia is reflected in iconic buildings such as temples related to religion, astrology, and architecture. One of them is Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia which is the largest Hindu temple in the world, with more than 2000 beautiful temples. The richness of culture and deep religion is reflected in the many temples, for example in Thailand with 35,000 temples.

9. Cultivate traditional clothes

Residents still maintain traditional and conservative clothing styles, so visitors need to adjust to the area to be visited because this is related to ethics and respect for local culture. One form of respect is when going to visit the temple, everyone must dress modestly covering the shoulders and feet, and must remove footwear when entering the temple.

10. Religious Diversity

Southeast Asia has a diversity of religions, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are generally Buddhist and the Philippines and some areas in the East are dominated by Catholics. Apart from Buddhists and Christians, most of the population in Indonesia adheres to Islam with guaranteed state security.

11. Coffee producing area

Coffee is a commodity that has been grown and consumed since the 17th century. Laos is home to the best quality coffee in Southeast Asia and coffee is the country's main export commodity.

12. Monks in Thailand

There was a time when all youths in Thailand, including members of the royal family, were required to become monks, even if for a short period before they reached the age of 20. Becoming a monk is a way for Thai men to believe in Buddha's teachings and celebrate adulthood (usually around the age of 20). Becoming a monk can be done at any time, but is generally done in April. A monk can't get married, so they only become monks for a short time, which is about three months or just a matter of days depending on the company's leave. However, this practice is no longer practiced.

13. Motorcycle country

Vietnam is a country with the most motorcycle users, because motorcycles are the main means of transportation. As many as 45 million motorcycles have been registered in the country, this means that almost half of the population owns a motorcycle.

14. Visa is not a problem

Each country has its own rules regarding visas, depending on the destination and origin of visitors. Most countries in Southeast Asia allow visa-free entry even for stays ranging from 2 weeks to three months.

So, what interesting facts do you know apart from those previously mentioned?