All I have to say is this:
http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/Essays/Racism.html
I don’t agree with everything he states, but I definitely agree with most of his points on TPM.
I agree as well. Most science fiction properties of any weight have to deal with this at some point or another these days. The ones that skip accents usually miss out on most. As someone well versed in several Asian languages (not fluent, just familiar with how they sound and being able to tell them apart) as well as having paid attention to the large number of Asian actors in Hollywood (especially those from overseas who have acceents), I have never been able to hear any real Accent in the Neimoidians. I’m also familiar with several notable Hollywood movies with white actors portraying Asian characters with accents and the Neimoidian accent is like nothing I’ve heard before. I find it funny they mention Charlie Chan. I wonder how many people who think the Neimoidian accent sounds like him have ever seen a Charlie Chan movie. He speaks nothing like that. I have never seen or heard one credible claim that Neimoidians are based on Asian in any way.