The Betrayal of Youth in East Asia: A Call for Change

In 2016, I returned to my hometown of Hong Kong and witnessed the profound societal shifts reshaping our world. Neoliberal policies had severely eroded the middle class, a trend observable in both developed and developing economies. Deindustrialization, fueled by offshoring, automation, and economic globalization, was unraveling the fabric of many city-states and nations. Simultaneously, a more insidious issue — population decline — was emerging across East Asia, threatening the region’s social and economic stability.

The Crisis of Population Decline

Population decline in East Asia is a complex crisis with significant implications. In countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, this trend has led to the closure of schools, universities, and child-related industries, creating what can be described as a “triple whammy” of de-industrialization, depopulation, and the decimation of the middle class. Japanese author Kenichi Ohmae, in his critique, lamented what he termed “The Age of Low IQ,” attributing it to a perceived lack of ambition among Japanese youth. He highlighted the rise of Hikikomori — a phenomenon where young people retreat into isolation, forgoing relationships and leading minimalist lives with their parents. Similar patterns appear elsewhere in East Asia, such as “Tang ping” or “lying flat” in…