Asia’s Streets Are Safe. The West’s Are Not. Here’s Why.

I’m on my way to meet a friend for coffee in Berlin. It’s 3 pm on a sunny afternoon. As I walk through the city, two homeless men are fighting over a plastic bottle. Nearby, five teenagers with black hoodies and glazed eyes lean against a wall, smoking weed. A woman yells something unintelligible. I pick up my pace.

I’m a grown man. I box regularly. I’m not supposed to be afraid. But something about this scene makes my stomach tighten.

When I arrive at the café, I ask my friend, “How do you even feel safe going out alone at night?”

“I don’t,” she says flatly. “But if I have to…” She opens her purse and shows me her pepper spray and personal alarm.

I’ve lived in Shanghai—a city of 25 million—for ten years. I’ve also traveled to Tokyo, Singapore, and Seoul at all hours. Not once have I felt the kind of unease I’ve experienced in Berlin, London, or San Francisco. In Shanghai, a woman can stroll home at 2 a.m. without a second thought.

So, what makes Asian cities feel so safe? Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

1. Zero-Tolerance Policing (That Actually Works)

Even petty crime is taken seriously in cities like Singapore and Hong Kong. Vandalism? Fined. Drug dealing? Expect serious consequences. The message is clear: Don’t mess around. Meanwhile, Western cities decriminalize shoplifting (hello, California), tolerate open drug scenes, and then wonder why disorder follows.

2. Justice Systems That Actually Deliver

In Japan or South Korea, assault someone and you’re likely going to jail—fast. The legal system focuses on accountability, not endless delays. In many Western countries, courts are bogged down by bureaucracy, ideology, and procedural backlogs, leading to weak or delayed consequences.

3. Urban Design That Deters Crime

Asian cities are dense, walkable, and alive at all hours. Streets are well-lit, and corner stores, vendors, and cafés create a natural network of watchful eyes. Natural and artificial surveillance everywhere. Many Western downtowns, by comparison, empty out at night and are riddled with poor lighting and infrastructure that signals neglect.

4. Fewer Guns. Period.

The U.S. has more guns than people. Europe isn’t immune either—gun violence is creeping up in some cities. However, in most Asian countries, firearms are tightly regulated. That means fewer shootings and less violent escalation.

I get it—for privacy advocates in Europe facial recognition and public surveillance is a nightmare. But let’s be honest: walking down a dark street in L.A. or Berlin isn’t exactly comforting either. For anyone.

So here’s the uncomfortable question: Privacy or security? Freedom or order? What matters more?

Stay curious,

Thomas 

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Bonus: 3 Companies Making Asia’s Cities Safer

🇨🇳 China: Alibaba Cloud’s “City Brain” AI-powered urban infrastructure that optimizes traffic, emergency response, and public safety. Already deployed in Hangzhou.

🇸🇬 Singapore: ST Engineering Designs smart lampposts equipped with cameras, environmental sensors, and gunshot detection systems to monitor city life in real time.

🇯🇵 Japan: SECOM replaces boots on the ground with bots in the hall—its Virtual KEIBI System and cocobo robot handle security, reception, and cocobo robot handle security, reception, and emergency response with a blend of AI, sensors, and real-time monitoring.