Can we shorten "a Chinese person" as "a Chinese"?

In the United States, if someone used the word "Chinaman," they'd appear both ignorant and out of touch with society, as it's considered an antiquated and an offensive term used in the 1800s. Using "A Chinese" would connote a similar disrespect as it is rarely used to refer to a person but as a qualifier for objects

Context:
Department History
"I send you herewith a deposit check for $12,000 as a contribution to the fund for Chinese Learning in your university." This letter, signed by "Dean Lung, a Chinese person", was written to Columbia President Seth Low by the valet of University Trustee General Horace Walpole Carpentier in 1901.

A better way would have been to write: "I send you herewith a deposit check for $12,000 as a contribution to the fund for Chinese Learning in your university." This letter, signed by "Dean Lung, a person of Chinese descent", was written to Columbia President Seth Low by the valet of University Trustee General Horace Walpole Carpentier in 1901...."

Moreover, the use of "...Dean Lung, a Chinese person..." brings down the quality of the letter, in my opinion.

As an aside:
In the United States, if someone used the word "Chinaman," they'd appear both ignorant and out of touch with society, as it's considered an antiquated and an offensive term used in the 1800s. Using "A Chinese" would connote a similar disrespect as it is rarely used to refer to a person but as a qualifier for objects.

URL: http://able2know.org/topic/216437-1


URL: http://able2know.org/topic/216437-1

That's absurd. If he was from Peru, then the sentence would reflect he was from Peru.
However, his residence is not an issue that has been raised or addressed.