Global Connections 7
27-3 Reading Notes:  Mongolia and Taiwan

Mongolia
 2.7 million population
 Least densely populated country in the world
 Isolated and landlocked
 Buffer state between Russia and China
 Natural resources include coal, copper, oil
 Ulaanbaatar  - capital of Mongolia
 Water shortages a major problem
 Food processing, clothing, footwear and paper are major industries
 Tibetan Buddhism (Lamaism) is major religion
 First free elections in l990
 Current government is looking for foreign aid and investments
 Minerals are financial hope for the future
 Gobi Desert, Mongolian Plateau, and Altai Mountains  dominate region

Taiwan
 Island nation
 Former Name = Formosa
 Mountainous interior; coastal plains
 Population lives on crowded coast
 One of Asia’s richest and industrialized countries
 One of the “Little Dragons”
 Per capita GDP is $46, 000 (3 times that of China)
 22 Million Population
 Exports computers, scientific instruments, and sports equipment
 Major trade partners are USA, Japan and China
 Taipei  - capital and largest city
 Kao Hsiung  - second largest city and major port
 “Mainlanders” (2 million) fled to Taiwan when Communists took
control of mainland China.
 Was under martial law (Taiwan still is)
 Democratic rights are expanding
 China claims to still own Taiwan
 Has economic ties to China
 Has economic ties to China – trade and investments
 Called Chinese Taipei by many countries