>>63943147
>It was unironically lactose intolerance.
You have not been anywhere near China, which is how you came up with this silly armchair theory.

Chinese "lactose intolerance" isn't deadly or even greatly discomforting; for most people it just means they get somewhat looser stools after consuming dairy, and chinese don't think that's an issue
if you go north of Shanghai you will actually find traditional Chinese yoghurt and curds, because that's wheat and cattle country. go even further north and even wheat doesn't do as well as maize
south of Shanghai is rice country

>This wasn't the case with most of Asia
mainly because most of China is farther south than Europe. even Sicily is 37 N; Xi'an is 34 N, Nanking 32 N, Shanghai 31 N. Shanghai is on a latitude with fucking Cairo
Cows don't thrive in this weather, they're scrawny and produce significantly less milk, so cultures around these parts tend to eat more chicken, fish, and pork.

personally, I think it's more likely that Asian lactose intolerance is driven by lack of dairy in diet, rather than the other way around.