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Biden calls QUAD allies India, Japan along with China, Russia 'xenophobic'

By Lalit K Jha
May 02, 2024 22:35 IST

US President Joe Biden has called two of his QUAD partners -- India and Japan -- and two of his adversaries -- Russia and China -- "xenophobic" nations, asserting that none of these countries, unlike the United States, welcome immigrants.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and US President Joe Biden at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment event at the G20 summit in New Delhi, September 9, 2023. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

"This election is about freedom, America and democracy. That's why I badly need you. You know, one of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden told his supporters at a fundraiser here on Wednesday evening.

 

"We look to — the reason — 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,” Biden, the presumptive candidate of the Democratic Party, said.

"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," the president said at the Democratic Party fundraiser.

India and Japan are members of QUAD -- a four-member strategic security dialogue that also includes the US and Australia.

Biden hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a State Visit last year while Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the White House last month for an official visit.

Biden has been under attack from his opponents and the Republican Party for his immigration policies as hundreds and thousands of illegal immigrants enter the United States every month.

Immigration is a hot topic in the November 5 presidential election in which Biden will face former president Donald Trump, the presumptive candidate from the Republican Party.

Their nominations will be confirmed at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

Lalit K Jha in Washington, DC
Source: PTI
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