Chinese nationalists have expressed their approval following significant budget cuts to the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), two U.S. government-supported media outlets that have long been targets of criticism from Beijing. The cuts come on the heels of President Trump's recent executive order aimed at dismantling the Agency for Global Media, the governing body overseeing these organizations.
Chinese Nationalists Celebrate Cuts to U.S. Funded Media Outlets
Chinese Nationalists Celebrate Cuts to U.S. Funded Media Outlets
Beijing’s state media applauds budget reductions to Voice of America and Radio Free Asia amid scrutiny of human rights coverage.
Historically, VOA and RFA have provided crucial news coverage in languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, Uyghur, and Tibetan for regions where independent information is scarce. However, this favorable shift for the Chinese government has been spotlighted by state media, such as the Global Times, which labelled VOA as a "propaganda tool" guilty of disseminating false narratives about China. The backlash against these media sources has intensified as they face operational uncertainties; employees at VOA have been placed on paid leave, and funding for RFA has been abruptly revoked.
The Chinese Communist Party has consistently opposed the influence and narratives presented by these U.S. outlets, alleging bias and inciting nationalistic rhetoric against them. As these U.S. institutions grapple with their futures, Beijing's nationalists see the financial constraints as validation of their long-standing grievances.
The Chinese Communist Party has consistently opposed the influence and narratives presented by these U.S. outlets, alleging bias and inciting nationalistic rhetoric against them. As these U.S. institutions grapple with their futures, Beijing's nationalists see the financial constraints as validation of their long-standing grievances.
