What's happened
India and Japan have dismissed US President Joe Biden's remarks accusing them of xenophobia and not welcoming immigrants. India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized that India's economy is strong and historically open to immigrants. Japan also refuted Biden's comments, stating they were 'unfortunate' and not reflective of Japan's policies.
Why it matters
The rejection of Biden's comments by India and Japan is significant as it highlights differing perspectives on immigration policies and economic growth. This exchange underscores the importance of diplomatic relations and the impact of public statements on international discourse.
What the papers say
India's Foreign Minister Jaishankar, as reported by The Independent, emphasized India's openness to immigrants and refuted claims of a faltering economy. Al Jazeera highlighted Japan's response, calling Biden's comments 'unfortunate' and not aligned with Japan's policies. South China Morning Post echoed Jaishankar's sentiments, emphasizing India's historical openness and rejecting the xenophobia accusations.
How we got here
The comments stem from President Biden's remarks at a fundraising event, where he criticized China, Japan, India, and Russia for hindering economic growth due to xenophobia and lack of immigrant acceptance. India's recent Citizenship Amendment Act and Japan's low immigrant population were cited in response to Biden's assertions.
More on these topics
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate