In a significant shift, Chinese state media has expressed approval of former President Donald Trump’s decision to reduce public funding for the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), outlets known for their critical reporting on authoritarian regimes. This move has immediate repercussions for approximately 1,300 employees at VOA, many of whom have been placed on paid leave following Trump’s executive order.
Impact on journalism and global reporting
Critics argue that this decision represents a major setback for democracy, while Beijing’s state-run Global Times has condemned VOA for its alleged “appalling track record” in covering events in China, asserting that it has been “discarded by its own government like a dirty rag.” The White House defended the cuts, claiming they would “ensure that taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda.”
The cuts specifically target the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a congressionally supported body that funds VOA, RFA, and Radio Free Europe. Over the years, these outlets have gained recognition for their reporting in areas where press freedom is severely restricted, including China, Cambodia, and North Korea. Although some countries block their broadcasts—VOA is banned in China—many listeners access their content through shortwave radio or VPNs.
Reactions from journalists and organizations
RFA has frequently covered human rights abuses in Cambodia, with former Prime Minister Hun Sen praising the funding cuts as a “big contribution to eliminating fake news.” The outlet was also among the first to report on the detention of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, a claim that the Chinese government refutes, insisting that those held are attending “re-education camps” to combat “terrorism and religious extremism.” VOA’s investigative work, including coverage of North Korean defectors and the Chinese Communist Party’s handling of COVID-19, has received various accolades.
“Voice of America has been paralysed! And so has Radio Free Asia, which has been as vicious to China. This is such great news,” wrote Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of the Global Times.
Valdya Baraputri, a journalist at VOA who recently lost her job, remarked on the larger implications of these cuts. She noted, “Eliminating VOA, of course, allows channels that are the opposite of accurate and balanced reporting to thrive.” The National Press Club, a prominent organization representing U.S. journalists, criticized the order, stating it undermines the nation’s commitment to a free and independent press.
Founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA reaches around 360 million people weekly in nearly 50 languages. Throughout its history, it has served as a critical informational resource for individuals in China, North Korea, and other oppressive regimes. Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, emphasized that Trump’s order constrains their efforts while adversarial nations invest heavily in discrediting the United States with misleading narratives.
Amidst growing concern, Bay Fang, chief executive of RFA, announced plans to challenge the funding cuts, labeling them as a “reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party.” RFA, which began operations in 1996, reaches about 60 million people weekly across several countries, including China, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
While Chinese state media celebrates these funding cuts, the actual sentiment among the Chinese populace remains uncertain due to stringent internet censorship. However, many who have relied on VOA and RFA outside of China are expressing disappointment and apprehension regarding the future of independent journalism.
“If the free world chooses to remain silent, then the voice of the dictator will become the only echo in the world,” warned Du Wen, a Chinese dissident residing in Belgium.