Introduction to Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia Members

Southeast Asia is a region in the southeastern part of the Asian continent. This area includes Indochina and the Malay Peninsula and surrounding islands. Southeast Asia bordered by People’s Republic of China to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, in the southern Indian Ocean, and Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and the Indian subcontinent on the west.

Geography of Southeast Asia can be categorized into two parts, the mainland and the islands.

Countries that are in the land, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Meanwhile, countries that are in the islands including Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines,  Indonesian, and  Singapore.

The religion of the Southeast Asian population is very diverse and spread across the region. Buddhism became the majority in Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos as well as Vietnam and Cambodia. Islam the religion professed by the majority of the population in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei and Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim adherents in the world. Christianity became a majority in the Philippines and Timor Leste. In Singapore, the religion with the most adherents is the religion professed by the Chinese such as Buddhism,  Taoism , and  Confucianism.

Even so, in some areas, there are pockets of non-majority faiths like Hinduism in Bali and Christians in Maluku and Papua, or Islam in Thailand and the southern Philippines.

Most economies in Southeast Asia is still classified to developing countries, only Singapore are classified as developed countries. Economy of Southeast Asia is still much dependent on natural resources, with the exception for Singapore.

A wide assortment of live animals in Southeast Asia, on the island of Borneo, can be found orangutans, Asian elephants, Sumatran Rhinoceros and Tiger Dahan (Neofelis nebulosa diardi). Binturong can be found on the island of Palawan.

Buffalo, both reared and wild, scattered throughout Southeast Asia, while deer can be found in Sumatra and Borneo. Hare itself is an animal that often appears in folklore in Indonesia and many well known children.

Beautiful birds such as peacocks and Srigunting (Drongo) live in Asia subregion is so far east of Indonesia. Babirusa (pork with four ivory), anoa, and dragons are also found in Indonesia. Hornbill beak and are sought to be traded to China.

Shallow water coral reefs (coral reef) in Southeast Asia has the highest level of biodiversity for marine ecosystems in the world, where the fish and mollusks are often found. Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) also live in the South China Sea.