Japan and India Express Regret Over Biden’s Xenophobic Comments

Japan and India have expressed regret that US President Joe Biden described both countries as xenophobic, AFP and Reuters reported.

At a pre-election rally on Wednesday, Biden emphasized that the US economy is growing because the US accepts immigrants, Reuters recalls. Biden put Japan and India on the same level as US rivals China and Russia, saying that the four economic powers have problems because they refused to accept immigrants, France Press recalls.

“Why is China struggling so economically? Why does Japan have problems? And Russia? And India? Because they are xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants”, Mr. Biden said at the event.

In response, Tokyo today expressed regret that these comments were not based on a correct understanding of Japanese politics. Tokyo’s objections were contained in a statement from the Japanese government.

Mr. Biden’s comments came less than a month after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made an official visit to Washington, and Biden hosted a dinner in his honor at the White House.

The White House has now moved quickly to tone down that criticism of Biden from Japan and India.

“The point that the president was defending, and I think around the world that people understand that, is that the United States is a country of immigrants, yes it’s in our DNA. “ National Security Council spokesman John Kirby explained Thursday.

“We have read the US government’s explanation, according to which these comments were not made to harm the importance and stability of the relationship between Japan and the US,” the Japanese government said in a statement expressing regret over the US president’s comments.

Mr. Biden’s words were not recorded on audio or video, but a handful of journalists who were present during the speech described them in writing. The statement was made at a pre-election event dedicated to Asian Americans.

The statement about Japan and India is surprising because, since Biden was elected president, he has tried to deepen ties with America’s allies in Asia, especially Tokyo and Delhi, noting near France Presse, which was announced by BTA.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also rejected Biden’s statement that India and Japan were xenophobic, Reuters reported.

At a roundtable organized by the Indian publication “Economic Times”, Jaishankar said that India’s economy has no problems and that Indian society is very open.

He recalled that India recently amended the Indian Citizenship Act, which now allows immigrants fleeing persecution in neighboring countries to become citizens. Indian.