Chinese state media is reveling in the drastic budget cuts imposed on Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, two U.S. government-funded media outlets that have long drawn criticism from Beijing over their coverage of human rights abuses in China.

These media outlets, Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, have for years broadcast news into countries where access to reliable external information is scarce, with Radio Free Asia providing broadcasts in various languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Uyghur, and Tibetan.

In China, where the Communist Party vehemently opposes Western influence, the current difficulties faced by these U.S-funded broadcasters are seen as a validation of Beijing’s long-standing complaints. The authorities have previously jammed radio transmissions from these organizations.

The Global Times, a Communist Party newspaper, denounced Voice of America as a “frontline propaganda tool” and a “lie factory” for what it considers to be prejudiced reporting on topics such as Taiwan, unrest in Hong Kong, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Following President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Agency for Global Media, which oversees these outlets, hundreds of Voice of America employees were placed on paid leave, and Radio Free Asia reported the termination of its federal grants.

The Chinese government perceives the dominance of American soft power through media as a threat to China’s security and interests. Consequently, they see Trump’s actions as a welcome blow to American influence.

For decades, Voice of America has been a source of uncensored news for Chinese listeners, with its broadcasts particularly influential during times of significant political and social change. Radio Free Asia has been a vital source of information on regions like Xinjiang and Tibet, where foreign journalists face restrictions. Reports from Radio Free Asia have uncovered human rights abuses, including the detention of Uyghurs.

Despite the Trump administration’s decision, critics argue that canceling these services is reckless and harms the people who rely on such information. The president of Radio Free Asia, Bay Fang, plans to challenge the order. Chinese media has expressed satisfaction with the developments, viewing it as a weakening of American anti-China influences.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/asia/china-trump-voice-of-america.html