Japanese Embassy on Biden Calling the Country ‘Xenophobic’: ‘It Is Unfortunate’

The Japanese Embassy on Friday issued a slight rebuke of President Joe Biden for referring to Japan as “xenophobic,” saying it raised concerns with administration officials over the remarks.

“It is unfortunate that some of the comments were not based on an accurate understanding of Japan’s policies,” the embassy said in a statement to POLITICO. “We have raised this point to the U.S. government and explained Japan’s positions and policies once again.”

During a campaign fundraiser on Wednesday, Biden grouped Japan — a close U.S. ally —with several other countries that he said were struggling economically because of their immigration policies.

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The Japanese Embassy in its statement said it was “aware” that the administration had clarified that Biden’s comments were intended to highlight immigrants’ role in strengthening the U.S., “and that his comment was not made with the intent of undermining the importance and permanence of the Japan-U.S. relationship.”

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