Here is another excerpt from the article that I quoted on 08 May 09 - 03:59 PM

"[In addition to Sulu in Star Trek (The original series)] Other Asian American Trek series regulars were Garrett Wang as Ensign Harry Kim in Star Trek: Voyager and Linda Park's turn as communications officer Hoshi Sato on Star Trek: Enterprise. Recurring Asian American cast members were Patti Yasutake as nurse Alyssa Ogawa in the Star Trek: The Next Generation and Rosalind Chao as botanist Keiko O'Brien (she marries a white character) in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. "They have service jobs that serve the interests of the white lead characters," Bernardi says of people of color in Star Trek. "Sulu is the classic Asian-male stereotype: His sexuality is not at all competitive with the white males."

(Daniel) Bernardi, [author of Star Trek and History: Race-ing Toward a White Future] cites an episode of TOS in particular, "The Naked Time," in which an alien virus infects the Enterprise crew, causing them to act out their inhibitions. In one of his most celebrated scenes, Sulu goes on a shirtless rampage, molesting Uhura and challenging all comers with a fencing sword. "That's Star Trek revealing itself," Bernardi says. "That's what they think Sulu is inside, a threat to women and wild beast that needs to be tamed."
The producers of Star Trek realized they had a problem, according to Bernardi. "They had this reputation as being egalitarian and pioneers. Deep down, they knew they were perpetuating stereotypes." That's one of the reasons the Borg, a species of cybernetic beings that assimilate and destroy anything in their path, were introduced on The Next Generation, according to Bernardi. "They were critiquing assimilation and the series itself," he says."

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/content/view/114/1/
Excerpts from "Race to Space: Asian Americans, stereotypes in Star Trek's Final Frontier"                  
Written by Harry Mok | Illustration by Gary Gao   
Sunday, November 2, 2008