British East and Southeast Asian

The term East and Southeast Asian has emerged in a UK context where the category 'Asian' is predominantly used to refer to those from a South Asian background.[3] It has been adopted to replace the derogatory racialised term 'Oriental'.[4][5] The term has gained currency following the outbreak of COVID-19[6][7] which led to a rise in anti-Asian racial violence[8] and the creation of a number of groups that have organised under the ESEA term.[9][10][11] However, pan-ethnic mass mobilisation among East and Southeast Asians in the UK has longer histories – such as Mulan Theatre, New Earth Theatre (formerly Yellow Earth Theatre) and BEATS (British East & South East Asians in the Screen & Stage Industry) in the arts.[4][12]

A 2020 pilot study of East and Southeast Asian people in the United Kingdom found that close to 95% of respondents identify or feel comfortable with the term British East and Southeast Asian (BESEA) or East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) to describe their identity.[13] In a 2021 article exploring an East and Southeast Asian identity in the Britain, Diana Yeh describes ESEA as a 'pan-Asian' political identity and alliance which has grown out of wider anti-racist organising in Britain.[4]

The term East and Southeast Asian was used regularly by personalities, institutions and media reports in relation to discrimination and racism during the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15][16][17] MP Sarah Owen referred to the term ESEA in parliamentary debates in 2020,[18] while the UK Government condemned attacks on ESEA communities in its response to a petition on the UK Parliament Petition Website which called for more funds to support victims of COVID-19 racism and anti-racism programmes.[19] Academic communities have also discussed this term including studies on COVID-related racism[20][21] and discussion panels on the experiences of ESEA with discrimination and racism.[22] In 2021, a #StopESEAHate GoFundMe campaign was launched with support from public personalities such as actors Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong and Henry Golding.[23][24]

The term ESEA is used in the names and mission statements of several organisations and initiatives such as:

• Global majority

• Lee, Helena, ed. (2022). East Side Voices: Essays Celebrating East and Southeast Asian Identity in Britain. London: Sceptre. ISBN 9781529344479.
• Yeh, Diana (2021). "Becoming British East Asian and Southeast Asian". British Journal of Chinese Studies (11). doi:10.51661/bjocs.v11i0.131.