The decade in review: Asia, and the challenge of the strongmen
In the Far East, the story of this decade is the story of two men who define not just Asia, but a growing and strengthening challenge to the United States, notes correspondent Barry Petersen.
First, China's President Xi Jinping.
His big spending on the military included deploying, just this month, the very first Chinese-built aircraft carrier, a bid to confront the U.S. over control of the region.
- In communist China, it's increasingly all about Xi (10/24/17)
- Power grab by China's Xi Jinping: President for life? (3/5/18)
- How China is transforming its military (3/4/16)
- Gallery: China's newest weapons of war
But closer to home, Xi has not been able to control this year's pro-democracy riots in Hong Kong triggered by a bill, since withdrawn, that would have allowed extradition of criminals to the mainland. Protesters saw it as a way to whisk away troublesome activist and journalists.
Once the jewel of Asia, the city is now better known for tear gas and street violence, with no end in sight.
- Hong Kong protests: How did we get here? (8/15/19)
- Sunday Journal: Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests ("Sunday Morning," 9/8/19)
- Hong Kong defies face mask ban as thousands take to the streets (10/6/19)
- What keeps the months-long, massive Hong Kong protests going? ("60 Minutes," 10/13/19)
Asia's other strong man, North Korea's Kim Jong Un, took power when his father died in 2011.
- Trump warns U.S. will "destroy" North Korea in U.N. General Assembly speech (9/19/17)
- Kim Jong Un calls Trump "deranged," says he will "pay dearly" for comments (9/21/17)
The faces of his family dynasty are everywhere. But to solidify his power, Kim is making life better for an emerging middle class. Department stores have goods, and Pyongyang has a new amusement park.
Even President Trump's name-calling (he referred to the North Korean leader as "Rocket Man" at the United Nations) seems to have raised Kim's status. Two nuclear summits followed, as did a remarkable photo op, when Mr. Trump became the first sitting American president to step into North Korea. "Stepping across that line was a great honor," Mr. Trump said.
- Trump leaves Singapore claiming success after historic meeting with Kim Jong Un ("CBS Evening News," 6/12/18)
- Top former intel official says Singapore summit was "serious misstep" (10/31/18)
- Trump leaves Vietnam summit with Kim without a deal (2/28/19)
- What did the Trump-Kim summit accomplish? ("Face the Nation," 3/1/19)
- Trump crosses into North Korea, meets with Kim Jong Un (7/1/19)
But months after that photo op, economic sanctions are still in place, and Kim just told his general to accelerate military development. That could mean new nuclear weapons or ballistic missile tests.
This decade began with a nuclear horror: explosions at a Japanese power plant after flooding from an earthquake-triggered tsunami. It ends under a different sort of nuclear cloud that threatens the United States, and the world.
- Japan earthquake, tsunami kill hundreds (3/11/11)
- Gallery: Quake, tsunami slam Japan
- The scar that a tsunami left on Japan ("Sunday Morning," 3/13/12)
- Children orphaned by tsunami struggle to cope ("CBS This Morning," 3/10/12)
- Fukushima's ghost towns ("60 Minutes," 7/28/19)
Story produced by Rose Manister.
See also:
- The decade in review: The top stories year-to-year
- The decade in review: News from Washington
- The decade in review: News from Europe
- The decade in review: Top movies and music