The decision to dismantle the Agency for Global Media has stirred a wave of reactions, particularly from Beijing, where officials have welcomed the financial cuts to Voice of America and Radio Free Asia, both criticized for reporting on human rights issues in China.
Global Reaction Intensifies as U.S. Cuts Funding to International News Outlets
Global Reaction Intensifies as U.S. Cuts Funding to International News Outlets
Chinese officials and nationalists celebrate significant budget reductions for U.S. government-funded media, questioning their sustainability.
As President Trump signs an executive order to dismantle the Agency for Global Media, the financial future of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) hangs in balance. With a historical mission to deliver news to regions with limited access to truthful reporting, these outlets have long faced scrutiny from the Chinese government, particularly due to their coverage of human rights violations in the country.
Following the announcement, Chinese state media has expressed glee over the cuts, viewing them as a validation of longstanding grievances against what they consider the biased reporting of U.S. media. Prominent among the critics is the Global Times, which labeled VOA a "propaganda tool" and accused it of disseminating "falsehoods" concerning key issues such as the governance of Hong Kong and the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
In light of these developments, hundreds of staff members at VOA were recently placed on paid leave, while RFA reported an immediate cessation of federal grants, threatening its operations. As Beijing celebrates this turn of events, the impact on media freedom and access to information in China and beyond remains a crucial point of concern.
