Northeast Asia Countries Research Articles

Mortality related to extreme temperature for 15 cities in northeast Asia.

Multisite time-series studies for temperature-related mortality have been conducted mainly in the United States and Europe, but are lacking in Asia. This multisite time-series study examined mortality related to extreme temperatures (both cold and hot) in Northeast Asia, focusing on 15 cities of 3 high-income countries. This study includes 3 cities in Taiwan for 1994-2007, 6 cities in Korea for 1992-2010, and 6 cities in Japan for 1972-2009. We used 2-stage Bayesian hierarchical Poisson semiparametric regression to model the nonlinear relationship between temperature and mortality, providing city-specific and country-wide estimates for cold and heat effects. Various exposure time frames, age groups, and causes of death were considered. Cold effects had longer time lags (5-11 days) than heat effects, which were immediate (1-3 days). Cold effects were larger for cities in Taiwan, whereas heat effects were larger for cities in Korea and Japan. Patterns of increasing effects with age were observed in both cold and heat effects. Both cold and heat effects were larger for cardiorespiratory mortality than for other causes of death. Several city characteristics related to weather or air pollution were associated with both cold and heat effects. Mortality increased with either cold or hot temperature in urban populations of high-income countries in Northeast Asia, with spatial variations of effects among cities and countries. Findings suggest that climate factors are major contributors to the spatial heterogeneity of effects in this region, although further research is merited to identify other factors as determinants of variability.

Transitory or Lingering Impact? The Legacies of the Cheonan Incident in Northeast Asia

What changes has the Cheonan incident brought about in the Northeast Asian region? How and to what extent have those changes shifted as time goes by? I find that the Cheonan sinking has played a key role in deepening the ideological chasm in South Korea between conservatives and progressives. It has also become a serious obstacle to the improvement of South Korea-North Korea relations, and has been the catalyst for the emergence of a Cold War-like rivalry between the US-South Korea-Japan and the China-North Korea-Russia blocs. However, relations among neigh-boring countries in Northeast Asia have shifted over time, including significant improvement in China-Republic of Korea relations and worsening of relations between China and North Korea and South Korea and Japan. KEYWORDS: Cheonan incident, ideological divide, South Korean politics, inter-Korean relations, Northeast Asian security relations.ON MARCH 26, 2010, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (ROK OR SOUTH Korea) navy corvette PCC-722 Cheonan sank while conducting a patrol mission in the Yellow Sea just south of the Northern Limit Line near Baekryeong Island. As a result, forty-six out of 104 crew members were killed while fifty-eight were rescued. Following an investigation, a Joint Civilian-Military Investigation Group (JIG) consisting of experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, and South Korea, announced on May 20 that the Cheonan had been sunk by a North Korean torpedo attack. What changes has the Cheonan incident brought about in the Northeast Asia region? How and to what extent have those changes shifted over time?The JIG's official report, instead of leading to a consensus view among South Koreans, sparked a debate over the cause of the incident. The already deep ideological chasm between con- servatives and progressives in South Korean society worsened. The sinking of the Cheonan also further undermined interKorean relations and served as the catalyst for the emergence of a Cold War-like rivalry between the US-ROK-Japan and the China-North Korea-Russia blocs. Along with these changes in regional security dynamics, the tragic incident also exerted significant influence on interstate relations among neighboring countries in Northeast Asia. In the short run, the Cheonan sinking weakened China-ROK, US-DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or North Korea), and US-China relations, whereas it helped strengthen China-DPRK, US-ROK, US-Japan, and ROK-Japan relations. Further shifts have occurred since the incident as China-ROK relations have significantly improved while China-DPRK and ROK-Japan relations have notably worsened.In this article, I first examine the widening ideological gap between conservatives and progressives in South Korea after the sinking of the navy ship by exploring the hotly contested points of the JIG's report. I then look into the impact of the Cheonan incident on Northeast Asian security relations and how and to what extent the changes produced by the incident have shifted over time.The Ideological Divide in South KoreaA Catalyst for Deepening MistrustIdeological disputes between conservatives and progressives in South Korea are hardly new. Since the end of the Korean War, the two camps have mainly clashed over policies toward the DPRK and the security role of the United States. Conservatives give top priority to fostering a close partnership with the United States and maintaining vigilance against the threat from North Korea. Progressives, however, radically oppose that narrative, seeing the North more as a kin nation with which to be reconciled and the United States as a disruptive interloper (Chae and Kim 2008, 77).This ideological divide became more evident after progressive President Kim Dae-jung (1998-2002) launched an engagement policy toward North Korea, called the Sunshine Policy. Conservative politicians, intellectuals, and media strongly opposed the Kim government's initiatives, criticizing him for not demanding reciprocal actions by the DPRK. …

Energy sector of Eastern Russia: Current state and prospects

Russia’s national interests require strengthening its energy cooperation with China, Japan, Korea, and other countries in Northeast Asia. Russia needs a balanced well thought out and scientifically based strategy for economic and energy cooperation with these countries. The eastern regions of the country, such as East Siberia and the Far East, with their powerful economic and energy potential, are the outposts in the implementation of Russia’s national interests in this strategically important region of the world. The article shows the features of the development of Russia’s economy in the new economic conditions, which have caused a revision of priorities in energy policy. The initial conditions, targets, and strategic directions of the energy sector are oriented to the East of the country. There are specific proposals on the necessary conditions and incentives for successful implementation of Russia’s Eastern vector energy strategy and priorities of its international cooperation.

North by Northeast: toward an Asian-Arctic region

Though the Arctic Council accepted China, Japan, and South Korea as observers in May 2013, the multilateral organization’s permanent member states continue to treat them as non-Arctic outsiders due to their lack of territory north of the Arctic Circle. Applying geographic perspectives that consider the importance of territory and proximity on the one hand and relations and networks on the other, the author argues for a reconceptualization of the Arctic region extending beyond the Arctic Circle. After presenting an overview of the Arctic’s long-standing economic integration with disparate parts of the globe, the author examines the bilateral economic cooperation occurring between countries in Northeast Asia and the eight countries with territory north of the Arctic Circle. Special attention is paid to the ports, or gateways and pivots, linking resources in the North Pacific and wider Arctic region to destinations in Northeast Asia. Importantly, the shipping lanes of the Northern Sea Route and the North Pacific Great Circle Route are facilitating these commercial ties, especially as northern countries seek to export their liquefied natural gas to expanding markets in Northeast Asia. Finally, as political cooperation has not grown to match the intensifying economic cooperation between Northeast Asian and Arctic countries, the author considers present and future directions of regional governance within the Asian-Arctic region. Possibilities examined include more focused regional and mini-lateral structures along with mechanisms based less on territory and more on networks and relations, especially those concentrated in the North Pacific – Northeast Asia’s maritime entryway to the Arctic.

The Economic Integration of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong: Implications for Korea's Trade Policy

The rapid economic development and growth of the People’s Republic of China has accelerated the economic partnership and integration among China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, giving rise to a new Greater China Economy. Since signing the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with Hong Kong in 2003, the Chinese central government has been steadily expanding the scope of economic cooperation through a succession of additional and supplementary arrangements. The bilateral economic partnership between China and Hong Kong will only continue to grow further in the coming years as the Chinese government is favorably inclined toward endowing Hong Kong with special trade privileges and status. Moreover, the growing economic partnership between China and Taiwan, spearheaded by the signing and effectuation of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (EC-FA) between the two countries in the June and September of 2010, respectively, will exert an increasing influence on neighboring countries in Northeast Asia. It is thus high time that we carefully examined and analyzed the implications of the increasing attempts at economic integration in Greater China Economy, especially for the Korean government’s trade policy vis-a-vis China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Are cognitive differences between countries diminishing? Evidence from TIMSS and PISA

Cognitive ability differences between countries can be large, with average IQs ranging from approximately 70 in sub-Saharan Africa to 105 in the countries of north-east Asia. A likely reason for the great magnitude of these differences is the Flynn effect, which massively raised average IQs in economically advanced countries during the 20th century. The present study tests the prediction that international IQ differences are diminishing again because substantial Flynn effects are now under way in the less developed “low-IQ countries” while intelligence is stagnating in the economically advanced “high-IQ countries.” The hypothesis is examined with two periodically administered scholastic assessment programs. TIMSS has tested 8th-grade students periodically between 1995 and 2011 in mathematics and science, and PISA has administered tests of mathematics, science and reading between 2000 and 2009. In both TIMSS and PISA, low-scoring countries tend to show a rising trend relative to higher-scoring countries. Despite the short time series of only 9 and 16years, the results indicate that differences between high-scoring and low-scoring countries are diminishing on these scholastic achievement tests. The results support the prediction that through a combination of substantial Flynn effects in low-scoring countries and diminished (or even negative) Flynn effects in high-scoring countries, cognitive differences between countries are getting smaller on a worldwide scale.

DEA를 활용한 한중 카페리 항로의 효율성 분석

In this prolonged economic recession, the countries in Northeast Asia play a crucial role in the global market and the relationship between Korea and China gets more attention due to its significant achievement during the past 20 years after the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992. In this regards, this study presents general overview of Korea-China Car Ferry Route and evaluates the efficiency level of each operating route using DEA model. Incheon-Yingkou, Incheon-Lianyungang, Pyeong Taek-Lianyungang are analyzed as efficent routes, while from the view point of passenger efficiency, 4 routes i.e, Incheon-Dalian, Incheon-Dandong, Pyeong Taek- Weihai, Gunsan-Shidao are also noted as efficient routes. Consequently, other inefficient routes can benchmark these efficient routes by increasing cargo volume and passengers.

Foreign aid competition in Northeast Asia

High levels of economic growth have transformed the countries of Northeast Asia from aid recipients to aid donors. This edited collection explores this transformation and its implications for economic development paradigms, policies and practices. By being the first authors to look holistically at the countries in this region, Potter, Kim and the contributors to this volume address the dynamics, potential and tensions of the aid programs of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. What motivates these northeastern Asian countries to embark on aid programs? Do their policies represent new approaches to foreign aid and poverty alleviation? Does aid from these countries reinforce or disrupt the emerging consensus within the international community on aid policy harmonisation and coordination? These are among the questions answered in this book. Students, scholars and practitioners in international development will find this book invaluable.

Impacts of Mongolian FTAs with the Countries in Northeast Asia: CGE Analysis with the GTAP 8 Data Base

Impacts of Mongolian FTAs with the Countries in Northeast Asia: CGE Analysis with the GTAP 8 Data Base

The Economic Integration of China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong: Implications for Korea's Trade Policy

The rapid economic development and growth of the People's Republic of China has accelerated the economic partnership and integration among China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, giving rise to a new Greater China Economy. Since signing the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) with Hong Kong in 2003, the Chinese central government has been steadily expanding the scope of economic cooperation through a succession of additional and supplementary arrangements. The bilateral economic partnership between China and Hong Kong will only continue to grow further in the coming years as the Chinese government is favorably inclined toward endowing Hong Kong with special trade privileges and status. Moreover, the growing economic partnership between China and Taiwan, spearheaded by the signing and effectuation of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (EC-FA) between the two countries in the June and September of 2010, respectively, will exert an increasing influence on neighboring countries in Northeast Asia. It is thus high time that we carefully examined and analyzed the implications of the increasing attempts at economic integration in Greater China Economy, especially for the Korean government’s trade policy vis-a-vis China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Structural and functional characterization of CATH_BRALE, the defense molecule in the ancient salmonoid, Brachymystax lenok

Thick-lipped lenok, Brachymystax lenok is one of the ancient fish species in China and northeast Asia countries. Due to the overfishing, the population of lenok has been declined significantly. Cathelicidins are innate immune effectors that possess both bactericidal activities and immunomodulatory functions. This report identifies and characterizes the salmonoid cathelicidin (CATH_BRALE) from this ancient fish. It consists of open reading frame (ORF) of 886 bp encoding the putative peptide of 199 amino acids. Sequence alignment with other representative salmonid cathelicidins displayed two distinctive features of current lenok cathelicidin: high level of arginine, resulting in high positive charge and glycine residues, which is significantly different from most acknowledged types of cathelicidins; and the six-amino-acid tandem repeated sequence of RPGGGS detected in a variable number of copies among fish cathelicidins, suggesting the existence of a genetically unstable region similar to that found in some mammalian cathelicidins. Expression of CATH_BRALE is predominantly found in gill, with lower levels in the gastrointestinal tract and spleen. The homology modeled structure of CATH_BRALE exhibits structural features of antiparallel β-sheets flanked by α-helices that are representative of small cationic cathelicidin family peptides. CATH_BRALE possesses much stronger antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria than that of the human ortholog, LL-37. The growth of two typical fish bacterial pathogens, gram-negative bacterium of Aeromonas salmonicida and Aeromonas hydrophila was substantially inhibited by synthetic CATH_BRALE, with both MICs as low as 9.38 μM.

Peace in Northeast Asia: Resolving Japan's Territorial and Maritime Disputes with China, Korea and the Russian Federation (review)

Reviewed by: Peace in Northeast Asia: Resolving Japan's Territorial and Maritime Disputes with China, Korea and the Russian Federation Kimie Hara (bio) Peace in Northeast Asia: Resolving Japan’s Territorial and Maritime Disputes with China, Korea and the Russian Federation. Edited by Thomas J. Schoenbaum. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2008. viii, 138 pages. $85.00, cloth and E-book. Peace in Northeast Asia is a collection of essays on Japan’s territorial and maritime border disputes with its neighboring countries in Northeast Asia. These include disputes over the territorial sovereignty of the Northern Territories/ Southern Kuriles, Takeshima/Dokdo, and the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands with Russia, Korea, and China, respectively, and the maritime delimitation disputes in the surrounding waters. The volume also includes Okinotori Island (Okinotorishima), for which Japan claims its 200–nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as a separate dispute with China. [End Page 167] These are all significant problems for Japan and its neighboring countries, with important political, economic, and security implications for their bilateral relations and for regional international relations as a whole. Many studies have already examined and considered solutions for these long-unresolved border disputes from various angles. Yet, facing the reality that there has been no resolution to these disputes, any new study that reexamines them and presents possible settlement ideas is welcome. Peace in Northeast Asia is one such attempt. The purpose of the volume, according to the introduction by the editor, Thomas J. Schoenbaum, is “to set out the history and basis of all three disputes and to suggest concrete ways they may be resolved” (p. 2). It also aims “to demonstrate how international law and international institutions can provide the basis for peaceful and harmonious settlement of sometimes dangerous international disputes” (p. 2). The volume consists of eight chapters: two are informative essays contributed by Reinhard Drifte and Michael Hahn, and the rest are written by the volume editor himself. In chapter 2, “The Politics of the East China Sea Gas Dispute: Ongoing Discussion between China and Japan,” Drifte explains the economic stakes of the two countries and traces development of their bilateral negotiations since 1968 to reach agreement about joint development of the energy sources in the East China Sea. In chapter 4, “Options for Dispute Settlement,” Hahn, on the other hand, introduces procedural avenues available under international law, particularly the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to settle the disputes, including bilateral negotiations between the disputant countries, third-party mediation, and international arbitration such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The rest of the volume (by Schoenbaum) provides historical background for these territorial and maritime disputes, discusses them in terms of international law, evaluates the positions of each disputant, and proposes settlement ideas for each dispute, in line with the purpose of the volume. The book’s “key recommendation,” according to Schoenbaum, is “to propose that the three disputes in question be resolved through the conclusion of three separate negotiated agreements between Japan and each of its neighbors, whereby three separate Zones of Cooperation and Environmental Protection will be established in Northeast Asia” (p. 5). Schoenbaum’s legal analysis supports Japan’s position in the Senkaku/Diaoyu dispute (p. 45) as well as its claim for all four islands of the Northern Territories (p. 59), but not for Takeshima/Dokdo, which, he concludes, belongs to Korea (p. 54). His specific proposals for resolving these disputes do not necessarily correspond to his legal analysis. He proposes Chinese recognition of Japanese sovereignty over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands (p. 101) and Japanese recognition [End Page 168] of Korean sovereignty over the Takeshima/Dokdo Islands (p. 115). However, for the Northern Territories, he proposes Japanese renunciation of its claim for the two large islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu, thus limiting its territorial recovery from Russia to Shikotan Island and the Habomais (p. 126). For the maritime boundary delimitations, he recommends that the Japan-China boundary should be drawn approximately halfway between the equidistance line (Japan’s position) and the Okinawa Trough (China’s position), which would give China “the largest share of the seabed of the East...

Explaining Welfare State Adaptation in East Asia: The Cases of Japan, Korea and Taiwan

AbstractA growing volume of literature suggests that the countries in North-east Asia are defying the productivist logic that has underpinned their welfare state regime. This article aims to unfold the developmental trajectory of welfare states in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. By combining structural accounts and political explanations of social policy reform, it discusses continuity and changes in the role of social policy over a stretched period of time. It then argues that although there has been significant change made to social policy in the region, structural conditions and the politics of expansion associated with them are yet to amount to a shift in the core foundation of their welfare production logic. The market-conforming role of social policy in East Asia has been persistent and, paradoxically, this explains their resilience against the forces of economic liberalisation.

Научно-технологический задел Дальневосточного федерального округа и стран Северо-Восточной Азии

The scientific and technological reserve is a key element of the Russian technological modernization especially in the Russian Far East. The competitive advantages of the regional scientific and technological reserve in comparison with foreign developments induce heated debates, which arise due to the integration of the regional economy into the system of world economic relations. Firstly, on the basis of patent statistics this study details the territorial, institutional and sectoral structure of the scientific and technological reserve of the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) and the North-East Asia countries. Secondly, the article presents an interpretation of the economic forces shaping the scientific and technological reserve in FEFD and the NEA countries, including the economic motivation behind scientific and technological exchange between Far Eastern and Asianactors. The study finds the current state of science and technology development in the FEFD to be a limiting factor for the region’s participation in international cooperation in this area. If the existing institutional and structural layout of the scientific and technological reserve of the FEFD is maintained in the future, it will serve to only reinforce the region’s disadvantageous position ininternational technological exchange, which – in the long term – will limit the region’s ability to expand its productive capacity

A Study on the Intercontinental Transportation Competitiveness Enhancement Plan between Northeast Asia and Europe Using the Trans-Siberian Railway

According to the extension and growth of the Northeast Asian economic bloc, the transfer of logistics between Northeast Asian countries and European countries has enlarged and the major countries of Northeast Asia have played a central role in the Northeast Asia economic bloc as logistics hubs. Currently, due to an increase in international freight volume, international shipping and air freight continues to increase. Due to lack of infrastructure and increase of transportation costs however, Northeast Asia's logistics competitiveness has weakened. It is therefore necessary to develop more efficient and reliable international transportation network. By analyzing the current status of major transportation paths between Northeast Asia and Europe currently in operation and their technical characteristics, this paper suggests an improvement plan for more efficient transportation and a transportation competitiveness enhancement plan, to solve realistic problems such as economic transportation technology and uncertainty of demand, and enhance the possibility of transportation costs and time savings. However, a result of comparative analysis of marine transportation and transcontinental railway shows that transcontinental railway competitiveness has decreased sharply. To enhance this, it necessary to invest and build mutual cooperation between countries, form a global network and create a mutual compensation system for an international transportation complex.

The Present and Future of Food Market in the Northeast Asia: Drinks Market

The main goal of this study is to show promising future food market of Northeast Asia countries, including China, Japan, and South Korea. Drinks market, including soft and alcoholic drinks is selected to show global food companies new opportunities for next strategic movements. Market Attractiveness Matrix is developed based on BCG matrix as a main framework for this study. CDI (Category Development Index) is also used. It is found that Asia-pacific has fast-growing markets and it has strong potential for future investment. Northeast Asia countries (China, Japan, and South Korea) turned out to be ones of the most attractive regional markets. However, European drinks market is saturated even though its size is still big. This study suggests that Northeast Asian market be considered a market for the next strategic movement and investment.

Financing for Regional Economic Integration for Northeast Asia III: A Multilateral Financial Institution for Northeast Asia

The Northeast Asian region is one of the most dynamic economic centers of the world, having China, Japan, and Korea as major players, with productive linkages to resource-rich Russia and Mongolia, and to the Pacific and North America. In contrast to the region’s robust economic growth, regional security has long been fragile, mainly due to the geopolitical conditions resulting from the Cold War era. In the twenty-first century, if the countries in Northeast Asia wish to further their development and prosperity, they will have to learn to harness their dynamic economies and create a region in which peaceful coexistence and common prosperity prevail. North Korea, Mongolia, the Russian Far East, and the northeastern provinces of China constitute a northern sub-region that is well-endowed with latent natural and human resources. This sub-region has the potential of becoming a valuable source of natural resources for the entire region, and what is needed is to realize that potential through cross border infrastructure development. Energy security and efficiency, the environment, and green growth, for example, constitute an important area of cooperation, as the three major countries of China, Japan and Korea are heavily dependent on energy imports and are highly vulnerable to energy crises. Financing requirements for the necessary cross-border infrastructure are likely to be large, and a regional financial institution is a key to meeting that financing need. This volume, which is the third in the series of volumes entitled, Financing for Regional Economic Integration for Northeast Asia, comprises papers, research reports, and summaries of a main conference and several specialized meetings, as well as affiliated activities, that took place under this project. The results of this project represent activities contributing to the regional economic integration and have been carried out in a spirit of cooperation.

Is AFTA a Desirable Regional Trade Agreement for ASEAN?

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) in liberalizing trade and investment through regional economic cooperation. We test whether the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) satisfies necessary conditions for a trade bloc to generate a positive and sufficient net trade creation effect by calculating trade-related indices introduced by the theory of economic integration. We find that ASEAN economies might not satisfy most of the conditions for creating positive welfare gains from AFTA. Moreover, in order to search for a desirable regional trade agreement (RTA) in the East Asian region, this study considers alternative strategies beyond AFTA, such as the currently implemented ASEAN hub (three sets of ASEAN+1: ASEAN+China, ASEAN+Japan, and ASEAN+Korea) RTA and a proposed ASEAN+3 (including ASEAN, China, Japan, and Korea) RTA. Although the ASEAN hub RTA appears to be a better policy option for ASEAN, it is not necessarily desirable for the region when we consider the neighboring countries in Northeast Asia as spokes. Therefore, we propose that the ASEAN+3 RTA, covering 10 ASEAN member countries and the three Northeast Asian countries, is a more desirable RTA in East Asia.

Japan’s Foreign Economic Strategy in the Context of the Summit of Three Countries in Northeast Asia: Situational Sub-regionalism

Japan’s Foreign Economic Strategy in the Context of the Summit of Three Countries in Northeast Asia: Situational Sub-regionalism

South-South Trade: An Asian Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to our understanding of the rationale behind the case for promoting trade among developing countries (South-South trade) by examining the emerging trends, patterns, and determinants of intra-developing country trade (South-South trade) in Asia within the wider global contest. The paper covers all developing member countries of the ADB (that is, countries in Northeast Asia (excluding Japan), East Asia, South Asia, and Central and West Asia, the Pacific), while paying attention to commonalities within sub-regions and differences among them. In analysing the Asian experience compared to developing countries in other regions, particular attention is placed on Asia’s unique role within global production networks and growing importance of cross-border trade in parts and component among countries in the region.