OpinionDonald 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 female Democrats were characterised as a calculated political manoeuvre. Photo: Washington Post photo by Jabin Botsford

Published: 1:53pm, 19 Jul 2019Updated: 7:34pm, 19 Jul 2019

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.

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.