Little League World Series (Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region)

The Asia–Pacific and Middle East Region is a region that competes in the Little League World Series. Asian teams first competed in the LLWS in 1961, when Japanese teams competed in the original Pacific Region (which included Hawaii). In 1962, Japanese teams began competing in the newly created Far East Region.

Asia–Pacific and Middle East Region
Most recent season or competition:
2024 Little League World Series qualification
FormerlyFar East Region
SportBaseball
Founded2001; 23 years ago (2001)
No. of teams10
CountryInternational
Most recent
champion(s)
Chinese Taipei Kuei-Shan Little League, Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei
Most titlesChinese Taipei Kuei-Shan Little League, Taoyuan, Taiwan (4)

In 2001, the Little League World Series was expanded to sixteen teams, and East Asia was split into two regions – the Pacific (consisting of teams from the Pacific Islands, Indonesia, and Oceania) and Asia (consisting of teams from mainland Asia). In 2007, the regions were reconfigured. Japan was given its own automatic berth in the Series, while the remaining Asian teams merged with the Pacific teams to create the Asia-Pacific Region.

In 2013, the region was reorganized as the Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region. Australia, now the fourth-largest country and the largest outside North America in Little League participation, received its own LLWS region. All Middle Eastern countries with Little League programs, except for Israel and Turkey, were placed in the former Asia-Pacific Region. Previously, the Middle East had formed a region with Africa, but that region was disbanded, with African teams joining the Europe and Africa Region (formerly Europe Region, which also includes Israel and Turkey).[1]

Asia–Pacific and Middle East Region Countries

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Asia Region (2001–2006)

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In 2001, the Far East Region split into the Asia and Pacific regions. The Asia Region comprised Little Leagues from mainland Asia.

Asia Regional Championship

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The list below lists each country's participant in the Asia Region Tournament between 2001 and 2006. Each year's winner is indicated in green. Two teams from the Asia Region won the Little League World Series — Tokyo in 2001 and 2003.

Year   China   Chinese Taipei   Hong Kong, China   Japan   South Korea   Thailand
2001 N/A
Hong Kong, China
Kitasuna LL
Tokyo
N/A
South Korea
2002 N/A
Hong Kong SAR, China
Sendai Higashi LL
Sendai
N/A
South Korea
2003 N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Hong Kong SAR, China
Musashi-Fuchu LL
Tokyo
N/A
South Korea
2004 Shou-Tien LL
Kaohsiung
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong SAR, China
Sendai Higashi LL
Sendai
N/A
South Korea
2005 N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Hong Kong SAR, China
Chiba City LL
Chiba City
N/A
South Korea
N/A
Thailand
2006 Huangpu LL
Guangzhou
Fong-Nien LL
Taitung City
Hong Kong LL
Causeway Bay
Kawaguchi LL
Kawaguchi City
N/A
South Korea
Sanuk LL
Chiang Mai

LLWS results

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2001 Kitasuna LL   Tokyo Champion 5–1
2002 Sendai Hagashi LL   Sendai Runner-Up 5–1
2003 Musashi-Fuchu LL   Tokyo Champion 6–0
2004 Shou-Tien LL   Kaohsiung Int'l Semifinal 2–2
2005 Chiba City LL   Chiba City Fourth place 4–2
2006 Kawaguchi City LL   Kawaguchi, Saitama Runner-Up 5–1

Pacific Region (2001–2006)

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In 2001, the Far East Region split into the Asia and Pacific regions. The list below lists each country's participant in the Pacific Region Tournament between 2001 and 2006. Each year's winner is indicated in green. No team from the Pacific Region won the Little League World Series.

Pacific Regional Championship

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Year   Guam   Indonesia   New Zealand   Northern Mariana Islands   Philippines
2001 Central LL
Agana
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
Saipan LL
Saipan
N/A
Philippines
2002 Central
Agana
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
Saipan ll
Saipan
N/A
Philippines
2003 Central LL
Agana
N/A
Indonesia
Saipan LL
Saipan
N/A
Philippines
2004 Central East LL
Mangilao
Jakarta LL
Jakarta
Saipan LL
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
2005 Central East LL
Mangilao
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
Saipan LL
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
2006 Central East LL
Mangilao
Jakarta LL
Jakarta
Bayside Westhaven LL
Auckland
Saipan LL
Northern Mariana Islands
Illam Central LL
Makati City

LLWS results

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2001 Central LL   Agana Int'l Semifinal 3–1
2002 Central LL   Agana Int'l Semifinal 2–2
2003 Central LL   Agana Group Stage 0–3
2004 Saipan LL   Saipan Group Stage 0–3
2005 Central East LL   Mangilao-Barrigada Int'l Semifinal 3–1
2006 Saipan LL   Saipan Group Stage 0–3

Asia-Pacific Region (2007–2012)

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In 2007, the Asia and Pacific regions were reconfigured again. Japan was given its own place in the LLWS and the remaining Asian and Pacific teams were merged into one region. No Asia-Pacific team has won the LLWS, although Kuei-Shan Little League of Chinese Taipei finished runner-up in 2009.

Asia-Pacific Regional Championship

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The list below lists each country's participant in the Asia-Pacific Little League Region Tournament between 2007 and 2012. That year's winner is indicated in green.

Year  Australia  China   Chinese Taipei  Guam  Hong Kong, China  India  Indonesia  New Zealand  Northern Mariana Islands  Philippines  Singapore  South Korea  Thailand  Vietnam
2007 Li-Shing LL
Taichung
Northern LL
Dededo
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
Jakarta LL
Jakarta
Bayside Westhaven LL
Auckland
Saipan LL
Saipan
Illam Central LL
Makati City
Nam Yang Ju Shi LL
Nam Yang Ju Shi
Sanuk LL
Chiang Mai
2008 Hills LL
Sydney
Guangzhou LL
Guangzhou
Tung Yuan LL
Wan-Hua
Southern LL
Yona
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
BB & SB Confederation of India LL
New Delhi
Jakarta LL
Jakarta
Bayside Westhaven LL
Auckland
Saipan LL
Saipan
Tanauan LL
Batangas[2]
Gyeonggi LL
Gyeonggi-do
Sanuk LL
Chiang Mai
2009 Waverley LL
Victoria
Kuei-Shan LL
Taoyuan City
Central LL
Agana
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
Indonesian LL
Jakarta
Auckland Baseball Association LL
Auckland
Saipan LL
Saipan
Illam Central LL
Makati City[3]
Singapore LL
Singapore
Seoul LL
Seoul
Sanuk LL
Chiang Mai
2010 Fu-Hsing LL
Kaohsiung
Northern LL
Dededo
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
Indonesian LL
Jakarta
N/A
New Zealand
Illam Central LL
Makati City
Singapore LL
Singapore
Seoul LL
Seoul
Sanuk LL
Chiang Mai
Hanoi LL
Hanoi
2011 Southern Adelaide Districts LL
Adelaide
Ching-Tang LL
Kaohsiung
Central LL
Agana
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
Indonesian LL
Jakarta
Bayside Westhaven
Auckland
Saipan LL
Saipan
Illam Central LL
Makati City
Singapore LL
Singapore
N/A
South Korea
Sanuk LL
Chiang Mai
2012 Perth Metro North LL
Perth
Kuei-Shan LL
Taoyuan City
Central LL
Agana
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
Indonesian LL
Jakarta
Oakland
N/A
Saipan LL
Saipan
Illam Central LL
Makati City
Busan LL
South Korea
Bangkok LL
Bangkok

LLWS results

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2007 Li-Shing LL   Taichung Int'l Semifinal 2–2
2008 Southern LL   Yona Group Stage 1–2
2009 Kuei-Shan LL   Taoyuan Runner-up 4–2
2010 Fu-Hsing LL   Kaohsiung Third place 4–1
2011 Ching-Tang LL   Kaohsiung Round 2 1–2
2012 Kuei-Shan LL   Taoyuan Round 2 1-2

Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region (2013–)

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As noted above, this region was reconfigured in 2013, with the spin-off of Australia into its own LLWS region and the addition of Middle Eastern countries. One Asia-Pacific and Middle East team has won the Little League World Series — Seoul in 2014.

The list below lists each country's participant in the Asia-Pacific Little League Region Tournament from 2013 to present. That year's winner is indicated in green. There was no Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region Tournament for 2020 and 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Year  China  Chinese Taipei  Guam  Hong Kong, China  India  Indonesia  New Zealand  Northern Mariana Islands  Philippines  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  Singapore  South Korea  Thailand  United Arab Emirates  Vietnam
2013 Chung-Ping LL
Taoyuan City
N/A
Guam
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
Indonesian LL
Jakarta
Bayside Westhaven LL
Auckland
Saipan LL
Saipan
Tanauan City LL
Tanauan
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Singapore LL
Singapore
N/A
South Korea
N/A
Thailand
Dubai LL
Dubai
2014 N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
Jakarta LL
Jakarta
N/A
New Zealand
N/A
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
Seoul LL
Seoul
Dubai LL
Dubai
Hanoi LL
Hanoi
2015 Guangzhou LL
Guangzhou
Tung Yuan LL
Taipei
N/A
Hagåtña
Hong Kong LL
Hong Kong
N/A
Jakarta
Saipan LL
Saipan
Illam Central LL
Makati City
Arabian American LL
Dhahran
East Seoul LL
Seoul
N/A
Bangkok
2016 N/A
China
N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
India
N/A
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
N/A
Saudi Arabia
East Seoul LL
Seoul
N/A
Thailand
N/A
United Arab Emirates
2017 N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
N/A
Saudi Arabia
Seoul West LL
Seoul
N/A
Thailand
2018 N/A
China
N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
N/A
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
South Seoul LL
Seoul
N/A
Thailand
2019 N/A
China
N/A
Chinese Taipei
N/A
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
N/A
Northern Mariana Islands
N/A
Philippines
Chung Nam (B) LL
South Chungcheong
N/A
Thailand
N/A
Vietnam
2022 Fu-Lin LL
Taipei
Guam LL
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
New Zealand
N/A
Philippines
N/A
South Korea
2023 N/A
China
Kuei-Shan LL
Taoyuan City
N/A
Guam
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
N/A
Philippines
N/A
Qatar
N/A
South Korea
2024 N/A
China
Kuei-Shan LL
Taoyuan City
N/A
Guam
N/A
Hong Kong
N/A
Indonesia
N/A
New Zealand
N/A
Philippines
N/A
South Korea
N/A
Thailand

LLWS results

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Year Champion City LLWS Record
2013 Chung-Ping LL   Taoyuan Round 3 2–2
2014 Seoul LL   Seoul Champions 5–0
2015 Tung Yuan LL   Taipei Round 3 2–2
2016 East Seoul LL   Seoul Runner-up 4–2
2017 Seoul West LL   Seoul Round 2 1–2
2018 South Seoul LL   Seoul Runner-up 4–1
2019 Chung Nam (B) LL   South Chungcheong Int'l Semifinal 2–2
2022 Fu-Lin LL   Taipei 3rd place 4–1
2023 Kuei-Shan LL   Taoyuan 3rd place 4–1
2024 Kuei-Shan LL   Taoyuan Runner-up 5–1

LLWS results by country

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The following table lists each Asia-Pacific country's record in the Little League World Series. Italics indicates team is no longer in the region. Table includes results for teams that qualified for either the East Asian, Pacific, Asia, or Asia-Pacific regional LLWS berth through the 2019 Little League World Series.

Country Asia-Pacific
Championships
LLWS
Championships
Record
in LLWS
PCT
  Chinese Taipei 9 0 22–16 .579
  Japan 5 6 25–5 .833
  South Korea 5 1 16–7 .696
  Guam 5 0 9–9 .500
  Northern Mariana Islands 2 0 0–6 .000
Total 26 7 72–43 .626

See also

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Asia-Pacific Region in other Little League divisions
Philippine Series

Notes

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  1. ^ In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), retreated to Taiwan, and set up a provisional capital in Taipei, which serves as the seat of government to this day. The CCP established the People's Republic. As such, the political status of the ROC and the legal status of Taiwan (alongside the territories currently under ROC jurisdiction) are in dispute. In 1971, the United Nations gave its China seat to the PRC instead of the ROC: most states recognize the PRC to be the sole legitimate representative of all China, and the UN classifies Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China". The ROC has de facto relations with most sovereign states. A significant political movement within Taiwan advocates Taiwan independence. Due to PRC pressure, the ROC participates in the LLWS events under the name "Chinese Taipei" instead of its official name "Republic of China" or as "Taiwan".

References

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  1. ^ "Regions Realigned for 2013: Australia to Play in Little League Baseball World Series" (Press release). Little League Baseball. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  2. ^ See: 2008 Little League Philippine Series#Little League Baseball (11 to 12 Years Old).
  3. ^ See: 2009 Little League Philippine Series#Little League Baseball (11 to 12 Years Old).
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