Newsom defends China trip after GOP criticism

Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed back against the pushback from Republicans Tuesday on his justcompleted weeklong trip to China and brief visit to Israel.

The second-term Democrat has been peppered with criticism from GOP lawmakers that it was purely political theater designed to boost his standing within the party. They pointed to photos of Newsom and Chinese President Xi Jinping, sitting across from one another and shaking hands, as Exhibit A.

“He does whatever is necessary to make his political aspirations continue and his trip to China was another grandstanding moment for him,” said Sen. Brian Dahle, R-Bieber, his 2022 reelection opponent.

Newsom, discussing the trek in a call with reporters, dismissed their disparagement.

“That was not top of mind as the reason for the trip,” he said.

The stated objective, officials have said, was to advance California's climate policies and promote environmental partnerships, economic development and tourism.

Newsom described it an “opportunity to build momentum” and to “reinvigorate partnerships” ahead of the next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in San Francisco.

Although China continues to permit more coal plants and several Chinese cities still have some of the world's worst air quality, Newsom said California still has much to learn from the country.

As for what Californians may gain from the trip, he pointed to Chinese developments in offshore wind (the country is the world's largest generators of wind power) and its push to build more electric vehicles.

The trip was paid for by The California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that funds gubernatorial travel.