The recent developments in the United States have sparked a mixture of reactions worldwide, particularly with regards to the decision made by President Donald Trump to cut the federal budget for the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, both of which have long been reporting on authoritarian regimes. This move has significant implications, affecting thousands of employees, with approximately 1,300 staff members at VOA alone being furloughed and receiving pay as a result of the executive order issued on March 14.
Critics argue that this decision poses a hindrance to democracy, while the Chinese government’s newspaper, Global Times, condemned VOA for its “despicable” reporting on China and stated that the US government has “dumped VOA like a rag.” On the other hand, the White House defended the decision, claiming it would help prevent taxpayers from footing the bill for “outlandish propaganda.”
The Trump administration’s decision targets the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a federally funded agency that supports VOA, Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe. These news outlets have gained international recognition for their reporting in areas with limited or no press freedom, such as China, Cambodia, Russia, and North Korea. Although some countries have blocked their broadcasts, people can still access them through shortwave radio or by using VPNs to circumvent restrictions.
RFA has been instrumental in reporting on human rights abuses in Cambodia, where the former authoritarian ruler, Hun Sen, praised the budget cut as a significant contribution to “eradicating fake news.” RFA was also one of the first news organizations to report on China’s “re-education camps” in Xinjiang, where thousands of Uyghur Muslims have been detained. China has denied these allegations. The organization has received awards for its reporting on defectors from North Korea and the Chinese Communist Party’s cover-up of COVID-19 deaths.
VOA, which primarily broadcasts in Mandarin Chinese, was recognized last year for its podcast on the rare protests against COVID-19 lockdowns in China in 2022. However, the Global Times described VOA as a “factory of lies” and welcomed the budget cut. In a March 17 editorial, VOA stated, “As many Americans begin to navigate the complexities of information and see the multi-dimensional reality of China, the malicious narratives that VOA has promoted will eventually become a laughingstock.”
Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Global Times, wrote, “Voice of America has been paralyzed! And Radio Free Asia has also been paralyzed, which is also cruel to China. This is great news.” The National Press Club, a leading representative of journalists in the US, said the order “undermines America’s long-standing commitment to a free and independent press.”
Established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA reaches approximately 360 million people weekly in nearly 50 languages. Over the years, VOA has broadcast in China, North Korea, communist Cuba, and the former Soviet Union, serving as a valuable tool for many Chinese citizens to learn English.
Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, stated that Trump’s order has put VOA in a difficult position, especially as enemies of the US, such as Iran, China, and Russia, are investing billions of dollars to create false narratives to damage US credibility. Amidst these challenges, the role of VOA and similar organizations in promoting a free and independent press remains a crucial aspect of global democracy.
