It's just a language difference. Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans are not called Asian in the UK, or if they are then some qualifier is added to distinguish from south asians. They are East Asian, oriental, or whatever their nationality is.
older british people would tell you that they used to call a pakistani a pakistani. This effort to call them "asian" is 100% because they want to avoid pointing out the specific group that is the problem
It's just a language difference. Japanese, Chinese, and Koreans are not called Asian in the UK, or if they are then some qualifier is added to distinguish from south asians. They are East Asian, oriental, or whatever their nationality is.
older british people would tell you that they used to call a pakistani a pakistani. This effort to call them "asian" is 100% because they want to avoid pointing out the specific group that is the problem