US President Joe Biden has called Japan and India” xenophobic”, grouping them together with Russia and China as countries that “do n’t want immigrants”.
His censure of Japan comes only days after he called the US-Japan empire “unbreakable” during a state visit from Fumio Kishida.
Despite US concerns about animal rights and spiritual freedoms there, India is also a significant US partner.
According to the White House, Mr. Biden allegedly did not offend either nation.
At a fundraising event for a largely Asian-American crowd on Wednesday night, Mr. Biden stated that the US election in November was about “freedom, America, and democracy.”
” Why? Because we welcome newcomers”, he added. ” Think about it. Why is China stalling but hard financially? Why is Japan having difficulties. Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they’re prejudiced. They do n’t want immigrants”.
The BBC has contacted the US embassies of Japan, India, China and Russia for reply, but did not receive an instant reply.
The responses, however, have drawn criticism from watchers in the US.
On X, previously Online, Elbridge Colby, a former US deputy assistant secretary of defence in the Trump presidency, wrote that Japan and India “are two of our very stoutest and significant friends”.
” We may talk to them with respect, which they prompt and deserve”, he added. It is foolish to use religious liberal ideas against our allies.
National surveillance spokesman John Kirby claimed he was making a more important point about US immigration policy, despite the White House denying that the remarks were intended in a disparaging manner.
” Our allies and partners know also in visible way how President Biden values them, their connection, their co- activity” Mr Kirby said. They are aware of how deeply ingrained in his mind is the concept of relationships and partnerships.
According to Sadanand Dhume, a South Asia specialist at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC, Mr. Biden’s comments are likely to be disregarded negatively in India as it is experiencing a “nationalist uptick.”
” It may ensure the perception that Mr. Biden is not pleasant to India,” he said. They wo n’t like it if they are associated with authoritarian nations like China.
A US Department of State report from late April found” important” human rights violations in India, which the country’s government alleged is “deeply biased and reflects a very poor understanding of India.”
In the longer term, yet, Mr Dhume said that notes are a “tempest in a cup” and “unlikely to significantly alter US- American relationships”.
Japan has long had some of the most stringent immigration laws in the world, but it has recently attempted to address a rapidly dwindling people by facilitating the access of foreign workers.
In response to common outcry- from both sides of the political spectrum- about Mr. Biden’s management of the US-Mexico border, he has adopted an extremely restrictive approach to immigration. He has repeatedly called former US President Donald Trump xenophobic during his 2020 campaign.
