New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (May 1) called Japan and India “xenophobic” countries that do not welcome immigrants. He also grouped these two allies with Russia and China, seen as adversaries of the US, when saying how all four differed from the US on immigration policy.According to AP, Biden said at a hotel fundraiser where most of the audience was Asian American that the upcoming US election was about “freedom, America and democracy” and that the nation’s economy was thriving “because of you and many others”.“Why? Because we welcome immigrants. 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,” he stated.“Immigrants are what makes us strong. Not a joke. That’s not hyperbole, because we have an influx of workers who want to be here and want to contribute,” Biden continued.After the event, the White House claimed that Biden’s remarks were not meant to be derogatory and Biden was simply talking about the US’s immigration policy.“Our allies and partners know well in tangible ways how President Biden values them, their friendship, their cooperation and the capabilities that they bring across the spectrum on a range of issues, not just security related,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday. “They understand how much he completely and utterly values the idea of alliances and partnerships.”