Asia's 15 most powerful countries in 2024

Alvin Toffler, a genius writer in the 1970's, wrote three volumes of masterpieces: Future Shock, The Third Wave, and Powershift. My former boss, the late iconic BFO or Secretary Blas F. Ople, required us to read at the very least, one volume each week, until I became a voracious reader and a constant searcher of all things that are new: ideas, technology, trends, and patterns of thoughts. As Toffler predicted, the shift of humanity's vortex of action from Europe to the Americas is now in Asia.

A new genius, Ashar Jawad of McKinsey wrote that the Asian countries are currently leveraging their respective powers so as to determine who shall be winners and losers in the race for supremacy in economic development, military power, political strength, and cultural influence. Thus, he shared the comparative index based on four weighted matrix: namely 40% for economic strength, 35% for military, 30% for political and 10% for cultural. Based on these, the most powerful from highest to lowest are: 1.) China, 2.) Japan, 3.) India, 4.) South Korea, 5.) Turkey, 6.) Saudi Arabia, 7.) Israel, 8.) UAE, 9.) Indonesia, 10.) Thailand, 11.) Singapore, 12.) Taiwan, 13.) Iran, 14.) Vietnam, 15.) Pakistan. The Philippines is considered weak.

I have no space to describe all 15 but only for the top 5. The fifth place goes to Turkey with a weighted average of 1.48, being sixth in economy, seventh in political power and cultural influence, and ninth in military strength. Located in the intersection between Europe and Asia, it is emerging as the most powerful in the Middle East outpacing Saudi Arabia and Israel, The fourth is South Korea with a weighted average of 1.1 being fourth in economy, political power as well as military strength, and eighth in culture. Its GDP was $1.7 trillion in 2023. Its military has a manpower of 600,000. It can fight North Korea anytime and anyplace.

The third placer is India, with a weighted average of 0.88 and placed first in cultural influence, second in military strength, third in economy but only 10th in political strength. I always thought India is stronger than Japan because India has the biggest population now outpacing China. Its GDP is $3.7 trillion. The second place goes to Japan with a weighted average of 0.58, being number one in political power, second in economic strength, and third in both military strength and cultural influence. Its GDP is $4.2 trillion in 2023. Its military is seventh in the whole world and number 3 in the whole Asia, next only to China and India.

No one could beat China in terms of total power with a weighted average of 0.36. It is number one in economic strength and military power, number 2 in political power and number 4 in cultural influence. It has a GDP of $17.7 trillion which is bigger than all the GDPs of Japan, India, South Korea and Turkey altogether. China is second only to the US in economy according to the global PricewaterhouseCoopers accounting firm. China is investing a lot in military hardware and recruiting more into its military. It is building up and strengthening its ties with Russia, Iran, and North Korea. China is America's biggest headache and the Philippines' gravest threat.

Among the 10 members of ASEAN, Indonesia is ninth, Thailand is tenth, Singapore is eleventh and Vietnam is number 14 among Asia's most powerful nations in 2024. The Philippines is again beaten by Vietnam and Thailand.

And this is a continuing mark of shame. Who is to accept responsibility for the weakness of our country? No one else but politicians who are incompetent, corrupt, and lacking of genuine love of country. Our leaders are only good at posturing, making fiery speeches, and showing off. We are nothing in the eyes of Asia and in the world. Shame, shame, shame.