A high-tech, futuristic city, it was the centre of the Asian economy in 1998, supporting a population of seven million people. Unfortunately, it also became a reservoir for crime syndicates, who thrived across the three city zones. The three zones clearly marked a distinction between rich and poor in both business and lifestyle, displaying clear colours of a dependence on capitalism. Six months after the carpet bombing of Raccoon City, twelve mysterious "Arks" arrived in the city's airport terminal, discovered to be B.O.W.s. Their escape began a second round in the fight against Umbrella.