That's my point...although when most Americans think of asian they are not thinking middle east, they are thinking of China east and typically east of India.
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. ;-)