Committee of 100 Creates AAPI Language Guide Memo for Use by Lawmakers, Public Officials, and Opinion Leaders

New York, NY (February 13, 2023) – Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today issued a memo on language use related to the U.S. – China relationship. The memo explains the important distinctions among China, the Chinese people, the People’s Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China. It also highlights categories of problematic language and the historical context that may impact how messaging is perceived.

The language that lawmakers, public officials, and opinion leaders use is important. Vocabulary and choice of language can either contradict or verify intentions, goals, and motives. This is especially true in diplomatic and international arenas. The Committee of 100 memo outlines specific categories of language that are dangerous, problematic, or unproductive, including examples of the categories.

The memo can be downloaded from the Committee of 100 website here.

The memo complements Committee of 100’s Anti-Asian hate glossary produced last year and recently revised with new information and graphics. Xenophobia in the U.S. towards Chinese Americans and the larger AAPI population often manifests across a myriad of words, phrases, and tropes. To help combat this issue, Committee of 100 crafted an anti-hate glossary as a guide for identifying terms, phrases, and imagery often associated with the Asian community. The glossary can serve as an accessible reference with examples to illustrate the types of language to combat. The glossary can be downloaded directly from the Committee of 100 website here.

About Committee of 100
Committee of 100 is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For more than 30 years, Committee of 100 has served as a preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org/ or follow Committee of 100 on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for more information.

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Contact 

Charles Zinkowski

Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications

Committee of 100

czinkowski@committee100.org