Final answer:
East Asia fell technologically behind the West predominantly due to the isolationist policies implemented by countries like China, Japan, and Korea, which limited contact with outsiders and stifled the exchange of ideas and innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology gap between East Asia and the West can be attributed to the implementation of an isolationist policy. Following the voyages of Zheng He, the Chinese court, influenced by Confucian thought, deemed foreign contact as too disruptive and embarked on a path of increasing isolation from the rest of the world. This included banning foreign travel, destroying oceangoing ships, and reinforcing the Great Wall of China. Meanwhile, in Japan and Korea, similar attempts were made to limit outside contact, based on the desire to preserve culture and prevent the influx of foreign ideas.
In contrast, the Open Door policy regarding China was put forth by the United States in 1900 to ensure that all countries could trade with China on equal terms, which was a move against isolationism and towards international engagement. The main foreign policies of the United States during the Cold War, such as containment and deterrence, further emphasize the shift away from isolationism post-World War II. These contrasting foreign policies highlight the impact of isolationism on a country's technological development compared to a more open approach.