Japan’s U.S. embassy said on Friday that President Joe Biden’s description of Japan as “xenophobic” was “unfortunate” and did not accurately reflect the country’s policies. The embassy stated that it had conveyed this point to the U.S. government and reiterated Japan’s positions.

Biden made the comment during a campaign fundraiser on Wednesday, grouping Japan with China, Russia and India. He suggested that their economic challenges were due to their “xenophobic” stances and reluctance to accept immigrants.

Biden says something. We all cringe.
Biden doesn’t know what he’s talking about.

Japan calls Biden 'xenophobic' comments 'unfortunate'
▶︎ https://t.co/wBp4KM46TD.

— Yoko 🇯🇵 | ランダムヨーコ (石井陽子) (@randomyoko) May 5, 2024

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later clarified that Biden’s intention was to highlight the U.S. as a nation of immigrants that gains strength from immigration. The Japanese Embassy acknowledged this clarification emphasizing that Biden’s remarks were not meant to undermine the strong U.S.-Japan relationship.

The incident occurred shortly after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to the White House in April during which Biden described the U.S.-Japan alliance as “unbreakable.” The embassy affirmed that the comments would not affect future bilateral cooperation.

Biden’s remarks faced criticism from some quarters. China Daily columnist Chen Weihua accused the U.S. president of having “a serious mental disease” in his fixation on “smearing China.”