Trump's funding cuts to US-funded media spark China's criticism

Tuesday 18 March 2025 - 12:09

By: Zahouani Ilham

Trump's funding cuts to US-funded media spark China's criticism

President Donald Trump recently signed an order halting funding for several US government-backed media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe. This decision comes as part of broader budget cuts targeting federal spending.

Radio Free Asia, initially created to provide independent news coverage in countries with strict media censorship such as China and North Korea, has reported extensively on sensitive topics in the region. These include allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as crackdowns on pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong.

When asked about Trump's decision, China's foreign ministry declined to comment on US domestic policy. However, spokesperson Mao Ning stated that some of the affected media outlets have a "notorious track record" when it comes to reporting on China.

State-backed newspaper Global Times went further, calling VOA a "lie factory" and mocking its defunding by saying the outlet had been discarded "like a dirty rag." Beijing has long accused Western media of bias and tightly controls foreign news access within its borders, censoring critical reports online.

Beyond China, these US-funded outlets have also covered the actions of other authoritarian regimes, including Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. Known for suppressing independent media, Hun Sen welcomed Trump's decision, praising him for fighting "fake news."

The funding cut comes amid ongoing tensions between the US and China over press freedom. In 2020, Beijing ordered several US media organizations, including VOA, to disclose detailed information about their operations within China, leading to the expulsion of multiple American journalists.