(Photo Credit: Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

DES MOINES, Iowa - Vice President Joe Biden described Asia as "the Orient' in a speech here today, hours after he apologized for using a word that could be perceived as anti-Semitic.

"You know, on the way back from Mumbai to go meet with President Xi in China, I stopped in Singapore to meet with a guy named Lee Kuan Yew, who most foreign policy experts around the world say is the wisest man in the Orient," Biden said at the kickoff for the "Nuns on the Bus" tour today.

WATCH: Biden Describes Asia as 'The Orient'

The word "Orient" is considered widely outdated and could be perceived as offensive, or insensitive, especially when used in reference to people.

The Republican National Committee jumped on the remark, with its Asian-American spokesman Ninio Fetalvo saying in a statement, "Vice President Joe Biden's insensitive remarks are offensive to both Asian-Americans and our Asian allies abroad."

"His comment is not only disrespectful but also uses unacceptable imperialist undertones. It's time for the vice president to apologize and to understand that his comments embarrass our country," Fetalvo added.

Meanwhile, Biden apologized earlier today, saying he made a "poor choice of words" when he used the word "Shylock" to describe bankers who take advantage of U.S. troops returning from serving overseas. The word can be perceived as an anti-Semitic term.