Staff Reports
In a recent interview shared on X (formerly Twitter), California Governor Gavin Newsom revealed that the State Department advised him not to broach the subject of human rights abuses with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to China. Newsom did mention the issue of human rights abuses with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, but he claimed that the State Department instructed him to keep the conversation focused on climate change, the main purpose of his visit. Newsom emphasized that he had an hour-long meeting with the foreign minister, which he considered a more appropriate venue to discuss the nuances and complexities of human rights and democracy.
Gavin Newsom Says Biden Admin Told Him Not To Bring Up Human Rights Abuses With Xi, Focus On Climate Change https://t.co/5MDpw7GIqB
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 30, 2023
Responding to criticism about his decision not to raise the issue directly with President Xi, Newsom explained that he wanted to use his limited time with the Chinese leader to reinforce the main goal of his visit – promoting low-carbon green growth. Newsom acknowledged that he was not there as the president or secretary of state, but as the governor of one of the largest states and economies in the world. He believed that influencing the agenda on climate change was a crucial opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
During his trip to China, Newsom also had the chance to test drive a $160,000 hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by a company that he had previously awarded a substantial contract for COVID-19 masks. Critics have questioned the company’s lack of experience in manufacturing such products. Interestingly, several senior officials from the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, have also made visits to China in recent months, aiming to find common ground on shared interests. However, it seems that these talks have not yielded significant positive results.
It’s worth noting that CCP-linked hackers breached the email accounts of several key State Department employees earlier this year, including those of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, ahead of John Kerry’s visit. So far, neither the State Department, the White House, nor Newsom’s office have commented on the matter.
