Err, Asian countries can be openly criticised for not moving on and removing their pieces of cloth from their face, especially if it is a peer pressure that is going to filter down to kids. Will I be offending them (or you) if, for example, I also bring up their generally very poor record on gender equality and gay rights in comparison to most western countries?
Is Jason Leitch your dentist?
Probably a bit of both given how Covid has been sold in most of Asia, but it's likely that the latter is the biggest factor.
You can't call a serial grifter repulsive without it being sexism in your wee fantasy world? Amazing stuff.