In recent developments, the Japanese government has issued a response to U.S. President Joe Biden's remarks labeling Japan as 'xenophobic.' The comments were made during a campaign fundraising event where Biden compared Japan to China and Russia, asserting that these countries are struggling economically because they do not welcome immigrants.
Japanese officials have expressed disappointment with Biden's characterization, calling it 'unfortunate' and stating that it was not based on an accurate understanding of Japan's policies. The U.S. government later clarified that Biden's comments were meant to highlight the U.S. as a nation of immigrants and that immigrants make the U.S. stronger. They emphasized that the intent was not to undermine the U.S.-Japan relationship.
The Japanese embassy in Washington, D.C. has confirmed that they are aware of the U.S. government's clarification and have reiterated Japan's positions and policies. This diplomatic exchange comes less than a month after Biden praised the U.S.-Japan alliance as 'unbreakable' during a state visit by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to Washington.
The Japanese government's response underlines the importance of cultural context and the unique challenges faced by Japan, a country with a long history of cautious immigration policies. Despite the diplomatic tension, both the U.S. and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to a strong bilateral relationship. 17GEN4.com