3 Stories You Should Read 5/21/2020: Trump, Hong Kong, Warren

May 21, 2020 Confluence

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In the category of: Taking my toys and going home

US expected to withdraw from another major arms treaty

An announcement could be made tomorrow, an administration source tells CNN.

The treaty which was signed in 1992 allows member countries to conduct short-notice, unarmed, reconnaissance flights over the other countries to collect data on military forces and activities.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman stopped short of confirming the US is going to withdraw on Thursday, but pointed to Russian non-compliance with the treaty as an issue. The Trump administration is “committed to our treaty obligations, but in this era of great power competition we are looking to advocate for agreements that benefit all sides and that include partners who comply responsibly with their obligations.”

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In the category of: In other news…

China Proposes Law Cracking Down On Hong Kong Opposition Activity

Such a move has long been under consideration but was hastened by months of anti-government protests last year.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s ceremonial parliament will consider a bill that could limit opposition activity in Hong Kong, a spokesperson said Thursday, appearing to confirm speculation that China will sidestep the territory’s own lawmaking body in enacting legislation to crack down on activity Beijing considers subversive.

Zhang Yesui said the National People’s Congress will deliberate a bill on “establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to safeguard national security.”

Such a move has long been under consideration but was hastened by months of anti-government protests last year in the former British colony that was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997. Such legislation was last proposed in 2003 under Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, bringing hundreds of thousands of the territory’s citizens out in protest.

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In the category of: Pivot! Pivot! Pivot!

Warren pivots on ‘Medicare for All’ in bid to become Biden’s VP

She’s pitching herself as a governing partner to Biden, despite their past clashes over policy.

“I think right now people want to see improvements in our health care system, and that means strengthening the Affordable Care Act,” she told students at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics this week, while adding that she still wants to get to single-payer eventually.

The shift is the latest public signal Warren has sent Biden’s way in recent weeks that she wants the job of vice president — and wants Biden to see her as a loyal governing partner despite their past clashes, which go back decades.

Warren’s policy-centered, team-player pitch is counting on Biden caring more about Jan. 20 than Nov. 3, when he makes his vice presidential pick. In other words, that the current crisis has elevated governing concerns above political ones — and that the times call for someone with her policy chops and, yes, plans.

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