You'll have to take that up with the Brits. To them, "Asian" has always meant people from the continent of Asia.
However, I've heard them refer to those from the Pacific rim and that region as "orientals" (yes, they still use that one) and "East Asians."
Dang limeys need to learn to speak English. ;-)
I'm not suggesting the Brits are right or wrong. I was just addressing what appeared to be an implication that there was an intentionally deceptive use of the term asian...and I was indicating that in the Brit mind parts of the middle east is asia.
I don't see that we disagree on any point here.