Determining the East Asian country most similar to Southeast Asia requires considering various social, cultural, economic, and political factors.
One way to answer this complex question is by analyzing the data from the Country Similarity Index. The Index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries, using a variety of statistics from five broad categories: demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography.
The Index suggests that Taiwan is the most similar East Asian country to Southeast Asia. On the other end of the spectrum, the data suggests that Japan is the least similar East Asian country to Southeast Asia.
(Southeast Asian countries are defined as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam)
Taiwan’s indigenous population is Austronesian-speaking. Many Southeast Asian countries, like Indonesia and the Philippines, share linguistic ties with Taiwan’s indigenous groups. Historical interactions, such as maritime trade routes and migration patterns, have linked Taiwan with countries in Southeast Asia. However, the biggest reason that Taiwan is the most similar country in East Asia to Southeast Asia is its geography.
Taiwan, like many Southeast Asian countries, experiences a tropical climate characterized by high temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons. The presence of tropical climates in both regions affects vegetation, agriculture, and the types of flora and fauna that thrive in these areas. Its centroid is the furthest south of any East Asian country.
The Most Similar Southeast Asian Country to Taiwan
The Country Similarity Index suggests that Singapore is the most similar Southeast Asian country to Taiwan. Both countries are located on tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean. In addition, most of their people are ethnic Chinese. Mandarin is an official language in both countries. In addition, these countries have vibrant technology sectors and are known for their contributions to innovation and research. Both nations have well-developed port facilities too.
