examples:
Islamic State of Afghanistan
a mountainous landlocked country in central Asia; bordered by Iran to the west and Russia to the north and Pakistan to the east and south
Union of Burma
a mountainous republic in southeastern Asia on the Bay of Bengal
Kingdom of Cambodia
a nation in southeastern Asia; was part of Indochina under French rule until 1946
People's Republic of China
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
State of Bahrain
an island country in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia; oil revenues funded progressive programs until reserves were exhausted in 1970s
People's Republic of Bangladesh
a Muslim republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971
Kingdom of Bhutan
a landlocked principality in the Himalayas to the northeast of India
Republic of India
a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
Kingdom of Nepal
a small landlocked Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and China
Sitsang
an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China; located in the Himalayas
Islamic Republic of Iran
a theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil
Republic of Iraq
a republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the area now known as Iraq
Nippon
a constitutional monarchy occupying the Japanese Archipelago; a world leader in electronics and automobile manufacture and ship building
State of Kuwait
an Arab kingdom in Asia on the northwestern coast of the Persian Gulf; a major source of petroleum
Republic of Korea
a republic in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula; established in 1948
Malaysia
a constitutional monarchy in southeastern Asia on Borneo and the Malay Peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957
Sultanate of Oman
a strategically located monarchy on the southern and eastern coasts of the Arabian Peninsula; the economy is dominated by oil
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
a Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley; formerly part of India; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947
State of Katar
an Arab country on the peninsula of Qatar; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; the economy is dominated by oil
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
an absolute monarchy occupying most of the Arabian Peninsula in southwest Asia; vast oil reserves dominate the economy
Republic of Singapore
a country in southeastern Asia on the island of Singapore; achieved independence from Malaysia in 1965
Republic of Armenia
a landlocked republic in southwestern Asia; formerly an Asian soviet; modern Armenia is but a fragment of ancient Armenia which was one of the world's oldest civilizations; throughout 2500 years the Armenian people have been invaded and oppressed by their neighbors
Sakartvelo
a republic in Asia Minor on the Black Sea separated from Russia by the Caucasus mountains; formerly an Asian soviet but became independent in 1991
Republic of Kazakhstan
a landlocked republic to the south of Russia and to the northeast of the Caspian Sea; the original Turkic-speaking inhabitants were overrun by Mongols in the 13th century; an Asian soviet from 1936 to 1991
Kyrgyz Republic
a landlocked republic in west central Asia bordering on northwestern China; formerly an Asian soviet but became independent in 1991
Republic of Tajikistan
a landlocked mountainous republic in southeast central Asia to the north of Afghanistan; formerly an Asian soviet
Syrian Arab Republic
an Asian republic in the Middle East at the east end of the Mediterranean; site of some of the world's most ancient centers of civilization
Kingdom of Thailand
a country of southeastern Asia that extends southward along the Isthmus of Kra to the Malay Peninsula
United Arab Emirates
a federation of seven Arab emirates on the eastern Arabian peninsula; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1971; rich in oil reserves
North Vietnam
a former country in southeastern Asia that existed from 1954 (after the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu) until 1975 when South Vietnam collapsed at the end of the Vietnam War
South Vietnam
a former country in southeastern Asia that existed from 1954 (after the defeat of the French at Dien Bien Phu) until 1975 when it was defeated and annexed by North Vietnam
Republic of Yemen
a republic on the southwestern shores of the Arabian Peninsula on the Indian Ocean; formed in 1990