Asian challenges abound ahead
slowdown. In fact, in this globalized world and with East Asian economies’ openness to the world market, such positive scenario is unlikely to be sustainable. Asian economies have shown signs of tiredness. The Chinese economy has slowed down to a “new normal” state. Japan’s Abenomics can perhaps yield better results if institutional reforms could be more expeditiously carried out, in monetary easing.
And even if the Asian economy is performing reasonably well, concerns over how much of it consists of so- called “bubbles” persist. Skyrocketing real- estate prices in many Asian economies are perhaps not the ideal indicators of economic growth. Avid speculation in the stock markets, coupled with proactive interventions by national authorities, are also not ideal methods for promoting long-term “real” growth. And we pay a very steep price for Asia’s high- speed growth. Large- scale environmental pollution and food safety issues emerge periodically, begging for more sustainable and systemic solutions.
And then there is the worldwide trend toward more frequent acts of terrorism, which affect Asia too. Social inequity often leads to the more abstract hatred of the “other” and the pursuit of more “idealistic” goals, so as to assuage a mind devoid of hope. Such a mindset for extremism and radicalization does not necessarily involve nationalism or even religion, and some even cut across national and cultural boundaries. As social media connect the furthest corners of the globe, the spread of these extremist views is very much facilitated. Some selfradicalized elements even travel East and become local recruiters if they survive and return. Others carry out “lone wolf” acts of random terrorism domestically. These alarming developments necessitate international cooperation to nip extremism in the bud.
The demographic trends in Asia are also worrying. Asian populations are, more than at any other time, getting older and younger at the same time. In more developed Asian countries, the improvements in livelihood lead also to reluctance to have more children. Such populations thus become progressively older as time goes on. Conversely, in some of the least developed Asian countries, population size has essentially exploded, with the large number of young people exceeding the number of jobs that the local economy could reasonably sustain, burdening both families and governments with the task of providing welfare. In both of these population growth models, some shrinking age groups have to provide for other expanding age groups, raising questions of inter- generational equity. More infrastructure for the old as well as for the young will have to be constructed in the coming years.
Moreover, social harmony is also affected when the jarring gap between the very rich and the very poor stares many Asian societies mercilessly. The GDP growth rate of wealth gap) grow almost in tandem in some instances. Although individual countries may appear to be “wealthy” overall, the wealth is not distributed equitably in these societies, with many of their citizens still struggling on the verge of poverty, while social elites control the levers of money and power. The working masses have to suffer from low wages and high prices. The traditional urban-rural divide in quality of living is now visible even within cities. It would appear that the only thing stopping many societies from breaking into riots appears to be underemployment, where people are relegated to working at jobs which are beneath their skill levels, so as to at least earn some income.
In view of the above, it would appear that Asia has its share of challenges. But turning challenges into opportunities is no strange job for the average Asian, and we must rise up to tackle and transform these challenges into new avenues for peace and stability.