Biden Calls India, Japan, China, and Russia "Xenophobic"

[Debater Slayer]

During a fundraising event last week, Biden called India and Japan, both of which are US allies, "xenophobic," along with Russia and China:

WASHINGTON (AP) — 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 the four with the U.S. on immigration.

The remarks, at a campaign fundraising event Wednesday evening, came just three weeks after the White House hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a lavish official visit, during which the two leaders celebrated what Biden called an “unbreakable alliance,” particularly on global security matters.

The White House welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi for a state visit last summer.

At a hotel fundraiser where the donor audience was largely Asian American, Biden said the upcoming U.S. election was about “freedom, America and democracy” and that the nation’s economy was thriving “because of you and many others.”

“Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden said. “Look, think about it. 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.”

The president added: “Immigrants are what makes us strong. Not a joke. That’s not hyperbole, because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and want to contribute.”

John Kirby sought to clarify the comments afterward:

There was no immediate reaction from either the Japanese or Indian governments. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Biden was making a broader point about the U.S. posture on immigration.

“Our allies and partners know well in tangible ways how President Biden values them, their friendship, their cooperation and the capabilities that they bring across the spectrum on a range of issues, not just security related,” Kirby said Thursday morning when asked about Biden’s “xenophobic” remarks. “They understand how much he completely and utterly values the idea of alliances and partnerships.”

Biden’s comments came at the start of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and he was introduced at the fundraiser by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., one of two senators of Asian American descent. She is a national co-chair for his reelection campaign.

Unsurprisingly, both India and Japan have formally pushed back on the comments:

India's foreign minister rejects Biden's 'xenophobia' comment

Japanese embassy on Biden calling the country ‘xenophobic': ‘It is unfortunate’

India hosts a significant number of immigrants, which places it among the top-20 immigrant destinations in the world by some counts. It also has a vast range of ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity among its population.

Meanwhile, both India and China are projected to have some of the highest economic growth rates among industrial countries this year—higher than the US', at 6.5% and 4.6%, respectively, and far higher than last year's growth for either—and the growth projection for Japan, at 0.9%, places it in the neighborhood of many other developed countries.

It seems to me that Biden's comments are mostly ignorant and arrogant, aside from grouping two key US allies with its two biggest adversaries.

What are your thoughts on Biden's comments?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

It seems to me that Biden's comments are mostly ignorant and arrogant, aside from grouping two key US allies with its two biggest adversaries

You forgot "politically stupid."

 

[Augustus]

It seems to me that Biden's comments are mostly ignorant and arrogant, aside from grouping two key US allies with its two biggest adversaries.

What are your thoughts on Biden's comments?

They are pretty stupid certainly.

It should be noted though that immigration policies in many countries are far more restrictive than they are in “the West” and would certainly be described as xenophobic by many Western progressives if their country started to apply them vis-a-vis their immigrants.

I don’t personally find immigration restrictions Xenophobic though, and I’m an immigrant married to an immigrant

 

[Stevicus]

During a fundraising event last week, Biden called India and Japan, both of which are US allies, "xenophobic," along with Russia and China:





John Kirby sought to clarify the comments afterward:





Unsurprisingly, both India and Japan have formally pushed back on the comments:

India's foreign minister rejects Biden's 'xenophobia' comment

Japanese embassy on Biden calling the country ‘xenophobic': ‘It is unfortunate’

India hosts a significant number of immigrants, which places it among the top-20 immigrant destinations in the world by some counts. It also has a vast range of ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity among its population.

Meanwhile, both India and China are projected to have some of the highest economic growth rates among industrial countries this year—higher than the US', at 6.5% and 4.6%, respectively, and far higher than last year's growth for either—and the growth projection for Japan, at 0.9%, places it in the neighborhood of many other developed countries.

It seems to me that Biden's comments are mostly ignorant and arrogant, aside from grouping two key US allies with its two biggest adversaries.

What are your thoughts on Biden's comments?

I agree with the statement "it is unfortunate." I don't know if it's just another Biden gaffe which can be chalked up to his age, or if he really meant it. This is just after Japan's PM stated that he wanted closer ties with the U.S., as Japan is right at ground zero if anything happens with NK, China, or Russia.

 

[SalixIncendium]

What are your thoughts on Biden's comments?

I don't have any.

I think I've made my opinion abundantly clear on this forum that neither candidate is adequately qualified to be "leader of the 'free' world."

 

[Twilight Hue]

I don't have any.

I think I've made my opinion abundantly clear on this forum that neither candidate is adequately qualified to be "leader of the 'free' world."

I agree with 'free' in italics wholeheartedly.

Report: 2020 was the worst year for democracy in recent history

New data suggests a worldwide "democratic recession" deepened in 2020, with notable declines in the US and India.

www.vox.com

Sadly as far back as 2020 if not even farther.

The common person is not allowed anymore to choose their own candidates. They are givin a preselected choice and even that was not adequate givin the nomination results followed by the soon to be electorate choice of the winner of the next 'free' world 'leader'.