Chinese state media has welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cut public funding for Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), two news outlets known for reporting on authoritarian regimes. The move has been widely criticized as a setback for press freedom but has drawn praise from Beijing, which has long accused the outlets of bias.
The decision, enacted through an executive order, impacts thousands of employees, with 1,300 staff at VOA being placed on paid leave. Trump’s administration defended the cuts, stating that U.S. taxpayers should not fund what it called “radical propaganda.”
Impact on Global Media
The cuts target the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds VOA, RFA, and Radio Free Europe. These organizations have long been vital sources of news in countries with restricted press freedom, including China, North Korea, Russia, and Cambodia. Despite censorship efforts, many people in these nations access the outlets’ reporting through shortwave radio and VPNs.
RFA, in particular, has played a crucial role in uncovering human rights abuses. It was among the first to report on China’s network of detention centers in Xinjiang, where Uyghur Muslims have allegedly been detained without trial. China, however, denies these claims, stating that the camps are “re-education centers” aimed at combating extremism.
VOA has also been at the forefront of reporting on North Korean defectors and the alleged cover-up of COVID-19 fatalities by the Chinese Communist Party. In 2022, it gained recognition for covering rare protests in China against lockdown measures.
China and Other Authoritarian Regimes Applaud Move
The Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper celebrated the funding cuts, calling VOA a “lie factory” and claiming that its work had been “discarded like a dirty rag.” Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of Global Times, echoed these sentiments, stating on social media, “This is such great news.”
Elsewhere, former Cambodian leader Hun Sen also hailed the decision, calling it a “big contribution to eliminating fake news.”
Criticism from Press Freedom Advocates
The decision has drawn significant backlash from press freedom advocates. The National Press Club in Washington, D.C., condemned the move, stating it “undermines America’s long-standing commitment to a free and independent press.”
Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, argued that the decision weakened U.S. media while adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran “sink billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States.”
Journalists at the affected outlets expressed dismay. Valdya Baraputri, a former BBC journalist who joined VOA in 2018, said she felt “betrayed” by the decision. She also raised concerns for colleagues who may now have to return to their home countries, where they could face persecution for their journalism.
International Efforts to Save the Outlets
In response to the cuts, the Czech Republic has urged the European Union to intervene to keep Radio Free Europe operational. The outlet broadcasts in 27 languages across 23 countries, reaching over 47 million people weekly.
Meanwhile, RFA’s chief executive, Bay Fang, has vowed to challenge the cuts. He warned that halting funding for independent media is “a reward to dictators and despots” and benefits authoritarian regimes by limiting the dissemination of factual reporting.
While Chinese state media continues to celebrate the move, the true impact on global press freedom remains uncertain. As Chinese dissident Du Wen wrote on social media, “If the free world chooses to remain silent, then the voice of the dictator will become the only echo in the world.”
