Japan and India reject comments from Biden, who described them as xenophobic countries

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TOKYO (AP) — Japan and India on Saturday condemned comments by U.S. President Joe Biden, who described them as “xenophobic” countries that do not welcome immigrants, the president said at a fundraising event earlier this month. week.

Japan said Biden’s judgment is not based on a proper understanding of his politics, while India refuted the comment, defending itself as the world‘s most open society.

Biden called Japan and India “xenophobic” countries, along with Russia and China, as he tried to explain the economic problems facing those four countries, contrasting them with the strength of the United States as a nation of immigrants.

Japan is a key ally of the United States, and both it and India are part of the Quad, an informal partnership led by the United States and also including Australia, aimed at countering assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Just a few weeks ago, Biden received Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and both leaders reaffirmed their “indestructible alliance” and agreed to strengthen their security ties in the face of the threat from China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a state visit to Washington last year, when he was received by business and political leaders.

The White House noted that Biden did not mean to offend anyone and simply highlighted the United States as a nation of immigrants, and stated that he did not intend to undermine the relationship with Japan.

Japan is aware of Biden’s statement, as well as the subsequent clarification, a Japanese government official, who declined to be identified by name due to the sensitivity of the issue, said Saturday.

The official stated that it was unfortunate that part of Biden’s speech was not based on a proper understanding of Japanese policies, and that Japan understands that Biden made these statements to emphasize the presence of immigrants as a strength of the United States.

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AP writers Ashok Sharma in New Delhi and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.