Beijing hails cuts to US-backed news outlets as victory, while critics decry the impact on press freedom
Chinese state-run media has expressed approval of former President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce funding for key US international broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), organisations known for their critical reporting on authoritarian regimes.
The cuts, announced on Friday, have led to significant disruption, with around 1,300 employees at VOA placed on paid leave. This move, according to Beijing’s Global Times, marks a victory for China, as it has long criticised these outlets for their portrayal of the Chinese government. The publication labelled VOA a “lie factory” and celebrated the defunding as a blow to what it referred to as a “demonising narrative” against China.
Trump’s cuts target the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these news outlets. These organisations have provided critical coverage in countries where press freedom is either restricted or non-existent, such as in China, North Korea, and Russia. VOA, for instance, has long been banned in China but continues to reach millions via shortwave radio and VPNs.
The White House defended the decision, stating it would prevent taxpayers from funding “radical propaganda”. However, this stance has been met with fierce criticism from both domestic and international press groups. The National Press Club, a prominent journalistic body in the US, condemned the cuts as undermining the nation’s commitment to free press, a principle deeply enshrined in American history.
As the cuts take effect, many journalists, including Valdya Baraputri, a VOA reporter affected by the move, have expressed their disillusionment with the loss of independent reporting in the face of growing government influence. VOA, which has been a critical source of news in China and North Korea, has also helped many learn English, further highlighting the breadth of its impact.
RFA, which reaches millions across Asia, has also been a key platform for human rights reporting, especially on the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. In response to the funding cuts, RFA CEO Bay Fang stated the decision emboldens authoritarian regimes, including China, that seek to silence independent voices. He confirmed that RFA plans to challenge the move legally.
As Chinese state media celebrates the reduction in funding, the global response paints a picture of concern. Critics argue that this decision will not only impact press freedom in the US but will also deprive millions of people, particularly in authoritarian regimes, of crucial information. The Czech Republic has already called on the European Union to support Radio Free Europe, another US-funded broadcaster facing similar financial strain.
Despite these challenges, those who have benefited from the reporting of VOA and RFA, such as dissidents and intellectuals from China, express their deep concern, warning that the silence of the free world might pave the way for unchecked authoritarian influence.
