Chapter 26: Southeast Asia

Thousands of islands and a long arm of land make up Southeast Asia. Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam lie entirely on the mainland. These countries have highland areas and lowland river valleys with fertile soil. Myanmar has a socialist government established by military leaders. Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam are all poor countries that have been affected by recent conflicts.

The island countries of Southeast Asia are Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Malaysia is rich in mineral resources. It also produces palm oil and rubber. Its capital, Kuala Lumpur, is a commercial center. The port of Singapore is one of the world's busiest trading centers. Brunei has rich deposits of oil and natural gas. The Philippines is the only Christian country in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 13,600 islands. It is the world's fourth most populous country. It also has a strong economy based on large reserves of oil and natural gas, many mineral resources, and agriculture. Islam is the major religion.