‘What Governor Newsom’s Trip to China Accomplished’ – In the Governor’s Own Words

California Governor Gavin Newsom just arrived home Sunday evening from a week-long trip to China. Many in California wondered why exactly the governor was spending a week romancing China when there’s plenty to love in the Golden State – or rather, plenty that needs fixing in California.

Well, as the Globe reported, “This trip was all about Gavin, and no one else.”

So in the governor’s own words, were are pleased to have Gavin Newsom tell you, “What Governor Newsom’s Trip to China Accomplished” from a press release he sent out Monday evening at 5:19pm:

“WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Governor Newsom’s trip to China was about delivering real climate action and creating opportunities for future collaboration and cooperation.”

Aha. What was that the governor “delivered” to China?… “real climate action” and “opportunities”… for collusion and “aid, assistance, coaction.” That’s what “collaboration and cooperation” mean.

What else did Governor Newsom’s Trip to China Accomplish?

According to Gavin, he “helped thaw relations and builds on the Biden Administration’s efforts to continue an open dialogue with China.”

Is the Biden Administration still trying to open a dialogue with China after two years in office?

“The Governor was the first American Governor to visit China in over 4 years.”

Wow. The first American governor to suck up to the Chinese Communist Party leader of China. That is an accomplishment. Yah, you betcha.

But now we get down to the business of what was accomplished:

According to Governor Newsom, his trip “prioritized three goals” – he didn’t actually accomplish something if he was “prioritizing” these:  1) advancing climate action and cooperation, 2) promoting economic development and tourism, and 3) strengthening cultural ties.

But hey – the governor has those priorities down pat.

“The Governor’s trip continued a 15+ year bipartisan tradition dating back to former Governors Brown and Schwarzenegger.”

What is this “bipartisan tradition?”

According to Gov. Newsom, “The Governor’s meetings with Chinese leadership resulted in a first-of-its-kind declaration by China and California to cooperate on subnational climate action…”

Aha. The “first-of-its-kind declaration.” Now that’s an accomplishment. It must have been exhausting.

But did Gov. Newsom actually do something – did he accomplish something – did he achieve something? Did he walk away with a deal?

“On this trip, California signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) – with China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu, and the municipalities of Beijing, and Shanghai.”

Aha. He signed five MOUs – which are non-binding. They have to be non-binding, because he’s only a governor of one state among the 50 states of the United States, and does not hold the Presidential-level authority to actually make treaties with foreign nations.

But what do these Memorandums of Understanding actually mean? What, if anything, can be done with these MOUs?

“Beginning immediately, California agencies and departments will initiate next steps toward implementing the MOUs with their Chinese counterparts. This work includes forming working groups, conducting bilateral meetings, establishing formal work plans, and planning site and delegation visits.”

Aha. They will “initiate next steps.” Meetings, roundtable discussions, travel, planning sites and delegation visits. Gov. Newsom sounds more like a travel agent than a Governor.

“Over the next two months, leadership from CARB and the California Energy Commission plan to attend the World New Energy Vehicle Conference in China, and California officials plan to engage Chinese counterparts at APEC in San Francisco and COP28 in Dubai.”

Aha. Unelected California bureaucrats will be traveling around the world on taxpayer-funded trips to attend conferences so they can see and be seen by important Chinese Communist Party officials… They must be so excited!

“Following the Governor’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first meeting with an American Governor since 2017 (since Jerry Brown made the trip), it was announced that President Biden and President Xi will meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco next month.”

This means Gavin Newsom is a buttinsky – he butted in ahead of President Biden’s meeting with President Xi next month in San Francisco – and did it in a big obnoxious way so everyone would know he did it first. Oof.

“President Xi expressed hope that his meeting with Governor Newsom would help U.S.-China relations, according to Chinese state media. Chinese leaders also said that ‘subnational cooperation is an indispensable part’ of the U.S.-China relationship and U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, who joined the Governor for the meetings on Wednesday, agreed: ‘This was a very positive and consequential day for the United States.’”

That’s a milquetoast way of saying Meh. Newsom came. He saw. He did not conquer China, and President Xi just intimated that by reminding Newsom of his “subnational” status.

Gov. Gavin Newsom did manage to run over a small Chinese child while playing basketball during his visit to China.

NEW: California Governor Gavin Newsom runs over a small Chinese child while playing basketball during his visit to China.

When he wasn't charging Chinese children, Newsom was meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

During the visit, Newsom called for unity with China and said… pic.twitter.com/V8ZRmgJa17

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 29, 2023

Mrs. Newsom who prefers to be called “The First Partner,” also played a little basketball with Chinese children. It was very odd.

A rich assessment of Newsom’s trip to China was from the Washington Examiner, which called one Newsom episode with President Xi “cringe-inducing,” and called it “Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) vanity trip to China.”

That glamour shot up top says it all – When he wasn’t charging Chinese children in pickup basketball.

Be sure to real all of the Globe’s coverage.