Japan’s government was irked today by a comment made by US President Joe Biden earlier this week when he called the country considered a close ally of Washington “xenophobic”.
With this epithet he also described her China and the Russia. For Tokyo, this statement was “sad” and wrong.
During a campaign event on Wednesday, Mr. Biden appeared to lump domestic allies (JapanIndia) and its rivals (China, Russia), arguing that all four major economies are facing difficulties due to the refusal of their political leaders to accept immigrants.
“Why is China facing so much economic stagnation? Why is Japan in trouble? And Russia? And India? Because they are xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants,” said the US president, according to a recording of his statements that was not published until yesterday Thursday.
In response, Tokyo said it found it “regrettable that comments were made that are not based on an accurate understanding of Japan’s politics.”
The comment of Mr. Biden it was revealed less than a month after he hosted a lavish state dinner for Fumio Kishida, showing—rarely—special diplomatic favor to the Japanese prime minister.
The US presidency was quick to tone down Mr Biden’s unexpected criticism of Japan.
“The opinion expressed by the president simply, I think many people all over the world know it, is that the USA it’s a country of immigrants, it’s in our DNA,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby explained during a briefing of accredited editors.
Tokyo noted that it took note of the clarification. “We are aware of the US government’s explanation that the comments in question were not made with the intention of undermining the importance and duration of Japan-US relations,” it said in a statement.
The Democrat, 81, was attending a campaign event dedicated to Asian Americans when he made the controversial comment.
According to iefimerida, he will seek a second term in November when he faces his Republican predecessor Donald Trump.
These types of pre-election events are not filmed or recorded, but a small number of journalists are allowed to watch and take notes.
Mr. Biden’s statements about Japan and India caused astonishment.
After assuming the presidency, Joe Biden is trying to strengthen relations with America’s allies in Asia, especially with Tokyo and New Delhi.
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