What the heck is East Asian? For that matter, what is West Asian, which presumably there must be, although not mentioned in the article, if there East Asians. Are there North and South Asians too?

David

Yes, there is South Asians - Indians and Nepalese, etc. are considered South Asians.

The term may not be perfect, but it is generally thought to mean 99% Japanese, Chinese, Korean, with some smattering of Singapore in there. Coincidentaly, I met my girlfriend speed-dating when we were both grad students at Columbia University, and my school (International and Public Affairs) has a higher earning potential than hers (Social Work). I am however, Dominican, while she is Korean.

Yeah, East Asian is a term for lack of a better one, meaning Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc. Obviously, as races are not really so distinct, it gets messy with Southeast Asian nationalities. Vietnamese, Singaporian, Thai Cambodian, and whoever else may fall into the general grouping based on looks. I understand the author's intent, and wouldn't make much of it.

There are south Asians (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, etc.), West Asians are sometimes called Ural-Asians, and often just lumped together with Europeans, meaning Russians, Ukranians, Georgians, etc. Some people refer to folks like Mongolians, Kazakhs, etc. as being central Asian.

People used to use the word "oriental" -- but for some reason that is now considered offensive, so we say "East Asian" instead.

As the others have explained, it's not a perfect term, but it's an attempt to describe people from a particular geographical region. Fifty years ago, "East Asia" was often described as the "Far East." Far from where? The West? Only if the West is the center of the universe.

Digression: Fifty years ago, the "Middle Ages" were called the "Dark Ages." Perceptions change.

"East Asia" has been around for a few decades. "South Asian" as used to describe peoples from the Indian sub-Continent is a more recent development. I think "Desai" is a current term used at times by Hindus for Hindus.*

*If this is incorrect, please, please don't be mean to SlateReader. At least she's making an effort.

We have always been at war with EastAsia.