Following are the many countries included in the Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month celebrations as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau:
- East Asians refer to people from China, Macau, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
- South Asians refer to people from the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Ethnic groups include Sindhi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil, and many others.
- Southeast Asians refer to people from the following countries and ethnic groups: Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
- Pacific Islanders are those whose origins are the original peoples of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.
The theme of this year’s AAPI month is Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration. The Federal Asian Pacific American Council selected this theme to stress the importance of diverse collaboration. A table filled with leading voices from diverse backgrounds can expand horizons to enact innovative change and create something ethnically inclusive.