TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Colonization was deeply entrenched across much of Asia, particularly during the 18th and 19th centuries. While countries like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam fell under European colonial rule, a few Asian countries that have never been colonized managed to preserve their sovereignty and avoid colonization altogether. So, which countries are they?
List of Asian Countries That Have Never Been Colonized
Citing World Population Review and World Atlas, a small number of Asian countries that have never been colonized are recognized, and Thailand is among them. Read on to see the full list.
1. China
Although China did experience significant foreign influence, it is still regarded as one of the Asian countries that have never been colonized.
China’s sovereignty was challenged multiple times, and most notably was by the Mongols, who conquered it in the 1200s, as well as establishing and ruling the Yuan Dynasty.
Rather than colonization by European powers, one of the most defining episodes in China's modern history was its conflict with the British Empire during the Opium Wars. These wars were rooted in trade disputes over Chinese tea, which sent China to defeat and forced them to sign treaties that granted trade concessions and territorial rights to Western powers, the UK, US, and France.
2. Japan
As one of the oldest countries in the world, Japan successfully resisted colonization and instead emerged as a colonizing power itself. Through the Meiji Restoration in early 1968, Japan modernized rapidly and built a strong military. It later became one of Asia’s dominant imperial forces by occupying Korea, Taiwan, and parts of China.
3. Thailand
Formerly known as the Kingdom of Siam, Thailand stands as the only Southeast Asian country that has never been colonized by a European power. It remained independent by skillfully balancing diplomatic relations with Britain and France, both of whom sought to expand their influence in the region.
As these two European powers allowed Thailand to exist as an independent buffer, it remained untouched by colonization. Thailand also undertook significant modernization efforts and high-level diplomatic moves to strengthen its position.
4. Bhutan
By the end of the Duar War (1865), about a fifth of Bhutanese territory was under the control of the British Empire. However, Bhutan’s long-standing policy of isolation, which limited interactions with the outside world, and its rugged mountainous terrain and dense forests helped the nation avoid full colonization.
In the 1910 Treaty of Punakha, the British Empire recognized Bhutan’s independence but assumed control over its foreign affairs. This responsibility was later inherited by India after its independence in 1947 and continues until today.
5. Saudi Arabia
From the early 1500s to the early 1900s, the Ottoman Empire controlled parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Then, Britain encouraged the Arabs to cooperate in overthrowing Ottoman rule. In exchange, Saudi Arabia became a British protectorate, not a colony. The country unified under Abdulaziz Ibn Saud in 1932 and has maintained its independence ever since.
6. Mongolia
Mongolia is cited among the countries that have never been colonized, though it has a rather complex past. In the 1200s, it was established as the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan but later fell under the rule of the Qing Dynasty in the late 1600s.
Although Mongolia broke away from China in 1911, it came under a Soviet-dominated communist regime from 1921 to 1990. This changed with the peaceful revolution of 1989–1990, when Mongolia broke free from Soviet influence and fully reasserted its independence and sovereignty.
While much of Asia experienced the heavy hand of colonial rule, these six nations stand out for having preserved their sovereignty. Ready to level up your discovery? Find out 10 countries with the greatest historical sites and histories.
Editor’s Choice: 10 Happiest Countries in Asia: Singapore, Japan Slip Down the List
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