Normally, I agree...

... with the web comic xkcd. But this time, I have my own thoughts...

Check the comic out here.

I get it that in Firefly, you really don't see too many Asians. Except when their shenanigans take the crew of Serenity to some of the larger planets, such as Persephone, in which episodes you see plenty of Chinese people.

There is a simple explanation for the otherwise lack of Asians in Firefly. A majority of the show takes place on the outer planets, where one can logistically do smuggling and not be caught, and also where the poor people live. In a 'Verse in which the American government broke down and was more or less replaced by the Chinese, and so in this world of Firefly, the poor people are the white people, the old Americans. All the Asian people, being the rich people which the xkcd guys claim to be "missing" from the show, in fact spend all their time on the inner planets, being the rich planets. Mal and his crew don't spend much time on the rich planets, because rich planets mean better-paid police and a higher likelihood of being caught.

Ergo, you rarely see Asian people in Firefly.

Jeez.