Why Rio Hondo Needs Asian Studies?

Here is an interesting story that shows why our students need to learn about Asia. At Rio Hondo we have a Humanities class called Splendors of Asia. This course was designed to introduce students to Asian culture and history. Unfortunately, we are not offering this class at this time.
As an Economics instructor, I have been advocating that this class be offered and taught every semester. Why would an economics instructor advocate for a class in Humanities?
The truth that our humanities department likes to ignore is the following: 
1) There are over 6 billion people on this planet, and 4 billion of these live in Asia.
2) Asia's population is getting richer, and the economic center of the globe is moving east.
This time is unlike the 1980s when the Japanese economic power rose. The Japanese did not have the large population that China and India possess. As the economies of these two countries grow you can expect big cultural changes here in the U.S.  The Japanese with their shrinking population caused us to build Sushi shops on every street corner. I expect the rise of China and India with their large populations to be bigger.
You do not believe me? It is already happening in Arcadia.