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Opinion | Donald Trump’s America can chant ‘send her back’, but Asia cannot afford such xenophobia
- The US president’s latest remarks speak to a global fear around ethnic and religious plurality
- But Asia’s rich history of immigration and current demographic trends demand that it stays largely welcoming to migrant foreigners and the diversity they bring
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US President Donald Trump’s recent jabs at four freshmen Democrats – telling them to “go back” and “help fix” the countries they came from – have been characterised as a calculated political manoeuvre, playing to a base leery of immigrants and unconvinced of the benefits of diversity.
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But the remarks also speak to a larger global fear around ethnic and religious plurality, a trend that we see in Asian nations that are experiencing a rise in identity politics, while hosting growing numbers of migrants and foreigners.
From Japan to Singapore, anti-foreigner sentiment bordering on racism can be seen both in online and offline spheres – despite countries being dependent on migrants to sustain high standards of living, ensure cities run smoothly and remain competitive globally.
For example, even though Japan has a reputation for being a polite country, a study released by the Anti-Racism Information Centre earlier this year highlighted how foreign nationals were refused rental accommodation or denied access to shops by locals.
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