Far East - Definition and Overview

Far East is a term often used for East Asia and Southeast Asia combined, sometimes including also the easternmost territories of Russia, i.e., Russian Far East, and the western Pacific Ocean region.

Far East (in contrast to Middle East) refers to countries/territories of East Asia e.g. China, Japan, Koreas, Hong Kong, Taiwan etc. However, South-east Asia region is usually added to be considered as such Far East too, some SE Asia states are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia. Hence Far East means East Asia (sometimes plus SE Asia).

Far East seems to be a term coined and used more frequently by the British/Europeans and had its origin since their colonial era in East Asia. Middle East (or West Asia) in contrast (at least the modern meaning of it) is used frequently by the Americans.

See also: Middle East, Near East, Orient