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Biden's description of Japan as xenophobic is 'unfortunate': Tokyo
The US President on May.1 argued that Japan, India, China and Russia were struggling because of their unwillingness to accept immigrants.
US President Joe Biden. / Courtesy/@POTUS
Japan on May.4 hit back at US President Joe Biden's comments about the Asian ally being "xenophobic" like China, Russia and India, calling the characterization "unfortunate" and misguided.
Biden lumped together allies Japan and India with rivals China and Russia at a recent campaign event, arguing the four economic powers were struggling because of their unwillingness to accept immigrants.
"Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan in trouble? Why is Russia in trouble? And India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants," the US President said on May.1.
"One of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," he added.
In response, Tokyo on May.4 said it was "unfortunate that comments not based on an accurate understanding of Japan's policy were made", according to a government statement.
The Japanese government had already delivered this message to the White House and explained once again about its policies and stances, the statement said.
Biden's remarks came less than a month after he hosted a lavish state dinner for his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in a rare gesture of high-level diplomacy.
The 81-year-old Democrat's unexpected digs at Japan, India, China and Russia soon prompted the White House to tone them down.
The President was merely trying to send a broader message that "the United States is a nation of immigrants," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
"It's in our DNA", he said.
Tokyo, for its part, said this clarification hadn't been lost.
"We're aware of the US government's explanation that the comments in question weren't made for the purpose of harming the importance and perpetuity of the Japan-US relationships,” its statement said.
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