Final answer:
Deng Xiaoping was central to the economic development of China and influenced the economic rise of the East Asian Tigers, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and South Korea, by introducing capitalist elements to China's economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
A key player in the economic development of China, as well as other East Asian countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and also contributing to the region including countries like Singapore, was Deng Xiaoping. He was responsible for transforming China's economy by incorporating elements of capitalism in the late 1970s. These changes paved the way for China to shift toward a market economy, where incentives replaced directives, and fostered an environment that favored investment and production. This significant turn in policy attracted foreign investments and produced a ripple effect across the region, contributing to the phenomenon known as the East Asian Tigers. These Tigers, which achieved high growth rates through export-led industrialization, also benefited from aid by the U.S., particularly during the Cold War, to counter the spread of communism.