Asia Pacific Viewpoint

Wang, Mark Y. L.

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00025

Since the economic reforms launched at the end of the 1970s, China has experienced dramatic socioeconomic change which has led to the emergence of new and distinctive regions of economic interaction characterised by an extensive and intensive mix of agricultural and non‐agricultural activities. This paper illustrates the nature and characteristics of these evolving Extended Metropolitan Regions (EMRs) by drawing on the experience of the Shenyang‐Dalian urban corridor in Northeast China (Manchuria). The increased level of economic interaction between the cities and the countryside is characterised by accelerated labour and capital flows, rapidly expanding rural‐urban commodity trade and subcontracting between urban and rural enterprises. The result is a rapid erosion of differences in the standard of living, economic function and life style between the city and the countryside.

Kong, Lily

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00026

As an area of geographical inquiry, popular music has not been explored to any large extent. Where writings exist, they have been somewhat divorced from recent theoretical and methodological questions that have rejuvenated social and cultural geography. In this paper, I focus on one arena which geographers can develop in their analysis of popular music, namely, the exploration of local influences and global forces in the production of music. In so doing, I wish to explore how local resources intersect with global ones in a process of transculturation. Using the example of English songs by one particular songwriter and artiste whose works are part of the popular music industry mainstream, and that of Mandarin songs of the genre xinyao, I will show that, despite increasing globalising forces, music is still an expression of local/national influences. Indeed, I will argue that globalisation intensifies localisation.

Windle, Jill; Cramb, R.A.

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00027

>Although Sarawak has a rapidly growing economy, the benefits of growth have been focused largely in the urban centres. However, the majority of the population lives in rural areas, where poverty, although on the decline, prevails. Attention is given to the role of rural roads in countering remoteness and, hence, promoting more equitable development. To assess the impact of rural roads, two roads were used for comparison. One provided Iban communities with access to Betong, a small district town. The other provided Bidayuh communities with access to Kuching, the capital city. This paper focuses on three economic impacts of roads – agricultural production, employment, and household income. Findings show that the impact of roads varied within an area (a function of remoteness) and between areas (also a function of remoteness). Impacts were considerably greater when roads provided communities with access to a major urban centre compared with a small town. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the government's strategy of rural development.

Raguraman, K.

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00028

International air cargo hubbing broadly involves two types of operations. Firstly, goods may be brought to a hub in one aircraft to be transhipped onto another aircraft bound for the destination with little storage involved. In the second case, goods which are brought in are stored as inventories in warehouses at the hub and are sent to the markets when the need arises. Over the past two decades, these hubbing activities have evolved with new developments in logistics management by the manufacturing firms, freight forwarders and airlines. This paper examines the intricacies involved in international air cargo hubbing, using Singapore as a case study. It is shown that the rapid growth in air cargo traffic handled in Singapore has come about largely due to careful planning on the part of aviation authorities in terms of identifying and responding to these developments in logistics management. The paper concludes with a discussion of the opportunities and challenges facing Singapore in its attempts to sustain its position as a major air hub in the Asia‐Pacific region.

Hoadley, Steve

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00029

Harland, Bryce Collision Course: America and East Asia in the Past and Future. da Cunha, Derek (ed.) The Evolving Pacific Power Structure. King, Peter and Kibata, Yoichi (eds) Peace Building in the Asia Pacific Region: Perspectives from Japan and Australia. Bell, Roger; McDonald, Tim and Tidwell, Alan (eds) Negotiating the Pacific Century: The ‘New’ Asia, the United States and Australia. Robison, Richard (ed.) Pathways to Asia: The Politics of Engagement.

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00030

Neher, Clark D. and Marlay, Ross Values, Culture, Development and Democracy in Southeast Asia: The Winds of Change Ravenhill, John (ed.) The Political Economy of East Asia: Vol. 1 Japan Vol 2: China, Korea and Taiwan Vol 3: Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand Lim, David Explaining economic growth: a new analytical framework Naya, S.F. and Tan, J.L.H. (eds) Asian Transitional Economies: Challenges and Prospects for Reform and Transformation Tilton, Mark Restrained trade: cartels in Japan's basic materials industries Province, Guizhou The population atlas of Guizhou Province Smith, Michael French Hard times on Kariru island: poverty, development and morality in a Papua New Guinea Village Dalziel, Paul and Lattimore, Ralph The New Zealand macroeconomy: a briefing on the reforms

1997 Asia Pacific Viewpoint

doi: 10.1111/1467-8373.00031