Japan calls Biden 'xenophobic' comments 'unfortunate' - BBC News

The US President called Japan, China, India and Russia "xenophobic" because they did not welcome immigration.

17 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The White House hosted Japanese PM Fumio Kishida for a state visit in April.By Bernd Debusmann JrBBC News, WashingtonThe labelling of Japan as "xenophobic" by Joe Biden was "unfortunate" and "not based on an accurate" understanding of the country, Japan's US embassy says.

The US president said during a campaign fundraising event earlier this week that Japan, India, China and Russia "don't want immigrants".

The White House has said he meant no offence and was merely highlighting US immigration policies.

The comment, however, has drawn scorn from some US and foreign observers.

Speaking to a largely Asian-American audience on Wednesday, Mr Biden said: "Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan having trouble. Why is Russia? Why is India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68955413

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