President Joe Biden has called Japan and India “xenophobic” countries that do not welcome immigrants, lumping the two with adversaries China and Russia as he tried to explain their economic circumstances and contrasted them with the U.S. on immigration. These remarks were made during a campaign fundraising event where the donor audience was largely Asian American. Biden emphasized that the upcoming U.S. election was about “freedom, America, and democracy,” and he attributed the thriving U.S. economy to its welcoming stance toward immigrants.
Biden’s statement has raised eyebrows, especially considering that just three weeks prior, the White House hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for an official visit, celebrating what Biden referred to as an “unbreakable alliance” between the U.S. and Japan. Similarly, India, despite differences in human rights, remains a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific region due to its status as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
The president’s assertion that immigrants contribute to the strength of a nation underscores his belief that welcoming workers from diverse backgrounds enhances a country’s prosperity. However, there has been no immediate reaction from either the Japanese or Indian governments regarding Biden’s characterization of their countries as xenophobic.
