Newsom’s olive branch tour of China

Inside the Golden State political arena

Oct 19, 2023 View in browser   By Dustin Gardiner and Lara Korte Gov. Gavin Newsom will travel to China next week, but it’s unclear if he will meet with President Xi Jinping, pictured. | Ng Han Guan/AP THE BUZZ: FOREIGN POLICY FLEX — Gov. Gavin Newsom is aiming to chart his own course on U.S.-China relations: Partnership over hawkishness. The Democratic governor will make the most ambitious and risky foreign policy move of his political career as he travels to China next week to meet with leaders of the communist regime about climate change. Newsom’s trip signals his desire to help shape a more nuanced national narrative on China during a time of growing tensions between the two countries. The governor’s administration said he will be “predominantly focused on climate,” indicating that Newsom won’t touch on a host of hot-button issues enveloping Beijing. “Divorce is not an option,” Newsom told POLITICO when he announced his climate-focused China trip last month. “The importance, the imperative of maintaining a relationship on climate with China is about the fate and future of this planet.” It’s an approach that allies and advisers say reflects Newsom’s sensibility as a lifelong San Franciscan. About a fifth of San Francisco residents are Chinese American — the highest concentration in any major U.S. city. It’s also home to the oldest Chinatown in the country. Newsom’s experience on a global stage goes back to his time as San Francisco mayor. In 2005, he traveled to Shanghai with the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), seeking to expand trade opportunities Darlene Chiu-Bryant, a former adviser to Newsom who accompanied him on the 2005 trip, said it was clear back then that he was focused on a positive business relationship with China, not points of controversy. Newsom, as a child growing up in the city, walked through Chinatown every morning on his way to Catholic school, she said. Chiu-Bryant said such experiences led Newsom to view China as more partner than rival. “For him, it’s always been, ‘We live in the global world,’” she said. The China trip is only Newsom’s second international junket in his official capacity as governor, despite holding office for the past five years. The Democratic governor's itinerary will focus on areas where California and China can partner to reduce planet-warming emissions, including electric cars, high-speed rail and offshore wind. The governor will have the opportunity to broker agreements that could cement California’s reputation as a global leader of the green-energy economy. But the trip also carries deeper professional significance for Newsom, a potential future U.S. presidential contender and a national surrogate for President Joe Biden. Newsom could bolster his foreign policy resume, which could come in handy on a presidential debate stage. Former Gov. Jerry Brown, who deeply expanded ties with China during his time in office, said Newsom has the potential to make a serious impact on climate, in part because he’s engaging during such a challenging moment for U.S.-China relations. “It takes some courage to go against the grain,” said Brown, now chair of UC Berkeley's California-China Climate Institute. “Newsom is eloquent enough that he can champion climate — and do it in a way that will be more effective than his critics.” — with help from Blanca Begert, Debra Kahn and Christopher Cadelago GOOD MORNING. Happy Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. PLAYBOOK TIP LINE — Who else do you expect to jump into the Senate race? Give us a ring or drop us a line. Now you can text us at ‪916-562-0685‬‪ — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts now. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on Twitter —@DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte  WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced.   GROWING IN THE GOLDEN STATE: POLITICO California is growing, reinforcing our role as the indispensable insider source for reporting on politics, policy and power. From the corridors of power in Sacramento and Los Angeles to the players and innovation hubs in Silicon Valley, we're your go-to for navigating the political landscape across the state. Exclusive scoops, essential daily newsletters, unmatched policy reporting and insights — POLITICO California is your key to unlocking Golden State politics. LEARN MORE.     FRESH INK California Attorney General Rob Bonta fields questions during an Aug. 28 press conference. | Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo TECH-NICAL DIFFICULTIES — California took the first step to appeal a federal court ruling that found the state’s kids’ online safety law likely violates the First Amendment. Attorney General Rob Bonta on Wednesday filed a notice of appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which was signed into law last year with the goal of protecting kids as they surf the web. The law, which was scheduled to take effect in July 2024, requires tech companies to set up guardrails protecting the privacy of young users and assess how the digital products or services they offer could impact the wellbeing of children who access them. The law was authored by Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) and passed the Legislature with unanimous and bipartisan support. But tech companies challenged it almost immediately. NetChoice, a trade group whose members include Amazon, Google, Meta, and TikTok, sued California in December, claiming the act “merely expands government power over online speech under the guise of protecting children.” Last month, a federal judge in Northern California District Court sided with the tech companies, issuing a temporary injunction under the assertion that NetChoice is “likely to prevail on its claim that enforcement of the [act] violates the First Amendment.” Bonta is seeking to overturn that injunction. "We believe the district court decision is wrong, and that we should be able to protect our children as they use the internet,” he said in a statement. “Big businesses have no right to our children’s data: Childhood experiences are not for sale." The state is expected to file the full appeal in the coming weeks. WHAT WE'RE READING TODAY BOOK BOARD — Huntington Beach is creating a 21-person community review board to decide which children’s books are appropriate for the public library. Opponents are calling it a book ban. (The Orange County Register) MUSK MONEY — The world’s wealthiest man and CEO of Tesla vowed a month ago to give $100,000 to oust Dean Preston, the sole Democratic socialist on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. But, according to the opposition campaign, Elon Musk has yet to make good on his promise. Not that it would matter, anyway. GrowSF, which runs the campaign, said they wouldn’t accept his money, citing a “misalignment of values.” (San Francisco Chronicle) IF YOU CAN’T BEAT ‘EM — After years of railing against “ballot harvesting” as an underhanded tactic employed by Democrats, the California GOP is making a concerted effort in 2024 to collect ballots from voters and bring them to collection sites. (CalMatters) PLAYBOOKERS BIRTHDAYS — Brandon Morales of Rep. Kevin Kiley’s (R-Calif.) office … (was Wednesday): Irwin M. Jacobs ... Marc Widelock …   Enter the “room where it happens”, where global power players shape policy and politics, with Power Play. POLITICO’s brand-new podcast will host conversations with the leaders and power players shaping the biggest ideas and driving the global conversations, moderated by award-winning journalist Anne McElvoy. Sign up today to be notified of new episodes – click here.     CALIFORNIA POLICY IS ALWAYS CHANGING: Know your next move. From Sacramento to Silicon Valley, POLITICO California Pro provides policy professionals with the in-depth reporting and tools they need to get ahead of policy trends and political developments shaping the Golden State. To learn more about the exclusive insight and analysis this subscriber-only service offers, click here. Want to make an impact? POLITICO California has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Golden State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you’re promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness amongst this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com.   Follow us on Twitter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner Lara Korte @lara_korte POLITICO California @politicoca   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  Ottawa Playbook  |  Brussels Playbook  |  London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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