Japan expresses regret over Biden’s ‘xenophobia’ comment to US

Japan expressed disappointment with President Joe Biden’s recent comments suggesting that “xenophobia” was hindering the country’s economic growth, the government’s chief spokesperson stated on Tuesday.

During a Washington fund-raising event last week, Biden remarked that “xenophobia” was impacting economies in countries like China, Japan, and India, while also highlighting how immigration has benefited the U.S. economy.

“We have conveyed to the United States our dissatisfaction with the statement, as it does not accurately reflect Japan’s policies and is regrettable,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated during a regular press briefing.

Hayashi emphasized that despite this episode, Japan’s relationship with the U.S. remains strong, and efforts will be made to further strengthen it.

In April, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Washington to discuss military cooperation and joint projects with Biden, aiming to enhance ties in order to counter threats from China and Russia.

During the fundraising event, Biden emphasized the positive impact of immigrants on the U.S. economy and suggested that countries like China, Japan, Russia, and India were facing economic challenges due to their reluctance to welcome immigrants.

Japan, known for its homogeneity, has traditionally been cautious about immigration, but with a declining birth rate and an aging population, the country is expected to face a labor shortage in the future.

While Kishida mentioned considering inviting skilled workers to address the demographic decline in a recent Newsweek interview, he ruled out the possibility of a comprehensive immigration program, citing existing resistance in Japanese society to continuous influx of foreign labor.