TOKYO - Japan hit back on May 4 at US President Joe Biden’s comments about the Asian ally being “xenophobic” like China and Russia, calling the characterisation “unfortunate” and misguided.

Mr Biden lumped together allies Japan and India with rivals China and Russia at a recent campaign event, arguing that the four economic powers were struggling because of their unwillingness to accept immigrants.

“Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan in trouble? Why is Russia in trouble? And India? Because they’re xenophobic. They don’t want immigrants,” said Mr Biden on May 1.

“One of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Mr Biden added.

In response, Tokyo on May 4 said it was “unfortunate that comments not based on an accurate understanding of Japan’s policy were made”, according to a government statement.

The Japanese government had already delivered this message to the White House and explained once again about its policies and stances, the statement said.

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has also rejected Mr Biden’s comment that “xenophobia” was hobbling the South Asian nation’s economic growth, The Economic Times reported on May 4.

Dr Jaishankar said at a roundtable hosted by the newspaper on May 3 that India’s economy “is not faltering” and that it has historically been a society that is very open.

“That’s why we have the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), which is to open up doors for people who are in trouble... I think we should be open to people who have the need to come to India, who have a claim to come to India,” Dr Jaishankar said, referring to a recent law that allows immigrants who have fled persecution from neighbouring countries to become citizens.

Mr Biden’s remarks came less than a month after he hosted a lavish state dinner for his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in a rare gesture of high-level diplomacy.

The 81-year-old Democrat’s unexpected digs at Japan soon prompted the White House to tone them down.

The President was merely trying to send a broader message that “the United States is a nation of immigrants”, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“It’s in our DNA”, he said.

Tokyo, for its part, said this clarification had not been lost.

“We’re aware of the US government’s explanation that the comments in question weren’t made for the purpose of harming the importance and perpetuity of the Japan-US relationships,” its statement said. AFP, REUTERS