In Asia, World War I and World War II were played out as struggles among several key imperial powers, with conflicts involving the European powers along with Russia and the rising American and Japanese. None of the colonial powers, however, possessed the resources to withstand the strains of both World Wars and maintain their direct rule in Asia. Although nationalist movements throughout the colonial world led to the political independence of nearly all of Asia's remaining colonies, decolonization was intercepted by the Cold War. Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia remained embedded in a world economic, financial, and military system in which the great powers compete to extend their influence. However, the rapid post-war economic development and rise of the industrialized developed countries of Republic of China on Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and the developing countries of India, the People's Republic of China and its autonomous territory of Hong Kong, along with the collapse of the Soviet Union, have greatly diminished Western European influence in Asia. The United States remains influential with trade and military bases in Asia.
In Asia World War I and World War II were played out as struggles among several key imperial powers with conflicts involving the European powers along with Russia and the rising American and Japanese None of the colonial powers however possessed the resources to withstand the strains of both World Wars and maintain their direct rule in Asia Although nationalist movements throughout the colonial world led to the political independence of nearly all of Asia's remaining colonies decolonization was intercepted by the Cold War Southeast Asia South Asia the Middle East and East Asia remained embedded in a world economic financial and military system in which the great powers compete to extend their influence However the rapid post-war economic development and rise of the industrialized developed countries of Republic of China on Taiwan Singapore South Korea Japan and the developing countries of India the People's Republic of China and its autonomous territory of Hong Kong along with the collapse of the Soviet Union have greatly diminished Western European influence in Asia The United States remains influential with trade and military bases in Asia