The core of Assertiveness is ultimately about respect as Aretha Franklin has been belting out as early 1967. Being respected is a fundamental need in interpersonal relationships. In Asia, that must include the concept of 'face'.
Questions are the way to go in building assertiveness. The trick is presenting your questions in a way that will be best received. Are you ready?
Traditional Asian values tend to advocate harmony and order. Harmony and order, in turn, are defined as each strata of society plays its part in obedience and submission; individualism is typically frowned upon and the whole is valued more than the individual. The bottom-line is that as much as a 'Western'-style 'speak up for your rights' assertiveness is acceded to, it is still incredibly difficult for much of Asian culture steeped in traditional values to do so.
Good communicators can achieve results that far exceed their technical skills and know-how. Poor communicators, on the other hand, constantly feel stymied in everything they do and tend to under perform relative to their potential. So how can you tell if you have poor communication skills, and what can you do about it?