Washington, D.C. – The recent budget cuts to Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by the U.S. government have sparked mixed reactions globally, with Chinese state media celebrating the move as a setback for U.S.-funded independent journalism. The funding reductions, part of a broader government spending cut, have forced these agencies to place hundreds of employees on administrative leave, significantly impacting their operations.
Chinese Government Responds to Budget Cuts
At a press briefing on March 18, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning declined to comment on the specifics of the cuts. Still, she took the opportunity to criticize VOA and RFA, stating that their reporting on China-related issues had been biased and misleading.
“Their poor reporting on China issues has long been evident,” Mao remarked, a sentiment echoed by China’s state-run media, which hailed the cuts as a blow to U.S. influence in the region.
The editorial added that the outlet had backed rioters involved in the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests, as well as separatists in Taiwan, which China considers to be a part of its territory. It further accused the VOA of “playing a key role behind nearly every malicious and absurd anti-China falsehood”.
Mr Hu Xijin, former Global Times editor-in-chief, called the “paralysis” of the likes of VOA and RFA “gratifying” in a March 16 social media post.
READ MORE: Voice of America (VOA) face major budget cuts as US slashes government media funding
In the post, he recounted his experience on a VOA program a decade ago and said that he was denied the chance to rebut points made by an anti-China scholar then.
Mr Hu, who has 24.9 million followers on the popular microblogging platform Weibo, said: “The VOA hosts were aggressive, and would cut me off whenever I tried to elaborate on my points.”
He said: “This is how the VOA fakes objectivity… and I believe that the Chinese people are pleased to see the collapse of America’s anti-China ideological strongholds from within.”
A Straits Times search on March 18 of “VOA” and “RFA” on Weibo, a gauge of public interest on current affairs, yielded zero results – a sign that discussions on the two titles have been censored.
Impact on VOA and RFA Employees
The budget slashes, ordered under former President Donald Trump, have had severe consequences for both organizations:
Voice of America (VOA): The funding cuts have led to nearly 1,300 staff members being placed on administrative leave, affecting journalists, producers, and editorial staff worldwide.
Radio Free Asia (RFA): Although operating on a smaller scale, RFA has also seen significant layoffs, with several dozen employees losing their positions.
VOA Chairman Speaks Out
In response to the cuts, VOA Chairman Michael Abramowitz condemned the decision, calling it a serious blow to press freedom. “For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” he said. “This is not just about jobs; it’s about the ability to provide factual, independent news to audiences in countries where free press is under threat.”
A Victory for Authoritarian Regimes?
VOA and RFA have historically played a crucial role in countering state-controlled narratives in China, Russia, and other authoritarian regimes. With these cuts, analysts warn that U.S. influence in global information warfare may weaken, giving authoritarian governments more control over public discourse.
As the debate over government spending continues, many fear these cuts will leave millions of people without access to unbiased news, making them more vulnerable to state propaganda.
