Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday that U.S. President Joe Biden's recent labeling of Japan as xenophobic is "regrettable," but pledged to continue efforts to bolster bilateral ties.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tokyo has told Washington that Biden's remarks, made last week at a 2024 presidential election fundraising event attended by a large number of Asian American voters, were not based on an accurate understanding of Japan's immigration policy.
But Hayashi said at a press conference that Japan believes Biden did not intend to hurt bilateral relations, adding the president referred to immigrants to explain the important role they play in creating economic growth in the United States.
Pointing to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to the United States in April, the first by a Japanese leader in nine years, Hayashi emphasized that ties between Tokyo and Washington are stronger now than they have ever been.
In the controversial comments made on Wednesday, Biden said, "You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," according to the White House.
While lauding immigration and diversity as key strengths of the United States, Biden was quoted as saying, "Look, think about it. 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."
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