White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is refusing to admit that President Joe Biden was wrong in calling Japan “xenophobic.”
During a speech about the benefits of immigration, Biden contrasted the United States to Japan as well as India, China and Russia, claiming that they are struggling economically because they have not embraced mass immigration.
“You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants. We look to — the reason — look, think about it,” he began.
“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. Immigrants is [sic] what makes us strong. Not a joke. That’s not hyperbole. Because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and just contribute,” he added.
Asked whether the president wants to apologize for his verbal attack on Japan, which is considered an ally to the U.S., Jean-Pierre ignored the question of apology, saying, “The broader case that he was trying to make which I think most — most leaders and allies across the globe understand, is he’s — he was trying — he was saying that when it comes to — when it comes to — when it comes to who we are as a nation, we are a nation of — of immigrants. That is in our DNA.”
“And — and so — and you’ve heard the President say this, and you’ve heard us say it more as an administration. It’s in — it makes us better. We are stronger for it because of the fact that in our DNA we are a nation of immigrants. And I think that’s probably very important to note as well. And that’s what he was —” she said further.
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Meanwhile, Biden’s remarks has attracted the ire of Japanese lawmakers, including House of Councilors member and leader of the right-wing populist Sansei Party Sohei Kamiya, who said, “It’s not that we’re xenophobic, we are being cautious after seeing your failures. You are meddling too much in our internal affairs.”
“Migration is a problem that European leaders are struggling with, too. There aren’t any countries that have solved this problem as of now,” wrote Mizuho Umemura, a member of the conservative Nippon Ishin no Kai Party who holds a seat in the House of Councilors.
“I hope that President Biden will solve the problem in New York before he says things like this. Depending on the presidential election, there could be a 180-degree change in policy, and there is no need for Japan to follow suit,” she added.