This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now being reprinted with permission.
Democracies and dissidents expressed astonishment and dismay on Monday while representatives of finished Asian societies without completely press welcomed the U.S. administration’s decision to halt Voice of America’s broadcasts and freeze funding for Radio Free Asia.
Global Times, a state-backed newspaper in China, published an editorial titled” a lie shop” and” a thoroughly biased advertising venom” about VOA.
The alleged “broke of liberty,” VOA, has now been discarded by its own state like a dirty rag, it said.
Previous Thai Prime Minister Hun Sen, the parents of the existing elite, described the closure of U.S.-funded “propaganda” outlets as” a significant contribution to eliminating false news, disinformation, lies, distortions, incitement, and chaos around the world.”
In the meantime, human rights activists in some of the country’s most oppressive nations spoke out in support of what they perceive as “beacons of trust” and true believers.
When my mother was informed that I would get released after serving my word, she was waiting outside on the deck the entire day for me.” There is something I did remember forever. Le Quoc Quan, a Taiwanese rebel prosecutor who served 30 months in prison and who now resides in the United States, recalled on Twitter that the first sound of her voice was on Radio Free Asia, which caused her to cry out loud.
Major loss for politics
Another Asian democracy activist who was imprisoned for seven years on usurpation claims claimed that RFA and Voice of America had freed his wondering from communist dictates before he was imprisoned.
From exile in Germany, Nguyen Tien Trung wrote,” These two terminals helped me break free from the Communist Party of Vietnam and shape my beliefs and actions.”
The end of RFA and VOA “represents a major loss for the democracy and human rights activities in Vietnam, China, Asia, and around the world,” he wrote.
Communist events in China and Vietnam will continue to dominate narratives, preventing Eastern audiences from hearing other viewpoints, including those about democratic advancement, freedom, and the respect that comes from upholding human rights.
A U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order late on Friday that called for the elimination of non-statutory elements of the US Agency for Global Media, or USAGM, the governmental agency that finances RFA, VOA, and several other independent international news agencies that broadcast in more than 60 language.
According to VOA Director Michael Abramowitz, almost all of the team members have taken operational left.
On Monday, RFA team members were still at work, and the Washington-based media outlet has not yet disclosed how the financing freeze may affect operations.
It was “devastating to reduce Radio Free Asia from the internet environment in Asia,” according to Elaine Pearson, Asia chairman at Human Rights Watch.
In a social media post, she wrote,” RFA has many brave writers who shined a light on right crimes that authoritarian governments would prefer to conceal.” This is a product to the region’s repressive institutions.
China, North Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos are some of the Asian nations where press liberty is most constrained, according to RFA. It uses radio, television, social media, television, and language to send information in ten different languages.
Gao Yu, a blogger and human rights activist from China, claimed in a blog on X that she had been warned against speaking to VOA and RFA.
This made me realize that the Chinese Communist officials are most afraid of these two British media sources,” she said. This is undoubtedly a time that the Taiwanese Socialist government may celebrate.
A fan of RFA’s Chinese company, the main language spoken in Hong Kong, expressed sadness about the potential closure after criticism politicians and Western governments claimed political freedoms had been severely curtailed.
Every day, I read your Rf Chinese information. You are doing a fantastic job! It’s so cruel for it to end this way. I’m hoping there’s a change. Maintain going”! Lukacat Lime, the banner claimed.
Cambodians and Burmese send messages of support.
Numerous messages of support for RFA and VOA flooded Khmer-language online communities, with readers and listeners venting their shock.
A person named Sokra wrote,” Khmer people need assistance because we don’t know which information we can talk to if there isn’t an RFA or VOA.”
In an effort to end decades of conflict and murder in Cambodia, the United States and other countries have criticized the country’s continued defiance of democracy in the decades since the U.N. held an election in 1993 in an effort to end the country’s decades of conflict and genocide.
Viriya Lim, another RFA Khmer speaker, called the information of the possible closure “devastating.”
Your monitoring has been a significant source of truth and data for so many,”. We are very appreciative of your service, Lim wrote on RFA Khmer’s Facebook page.” Please understand that your efforts have made a true difference.
People expressed their gratitude for RFA in Myanmar, where succeeding generations have battled to overthrow military rule.
Since my dad has listened to RFA since he was young, he has taught me about the dictator, politics, civil society organizations, and various nations, Moe Aung wrote on Facebook.
” I will never forget to give thanks to RFA. I sincerely ask that you stay up.”
Ha Tae-kyung, a three-term senator and vociferous critic of North Korea’s terrible animal rights record, expressed in South Korea that Washington was undermining its reputation by shutting down RFA and VOA.
Ha remarked that these companies have long been committed to reform and human rights in North Korea. ” It takes decades to build a well-constructed castle, but just a single moment to knock it down.”
Beijing’s censure
The executive order issued by the Chinese state on Friday was not instantly taken into account. However, the editor from Global Times  attacked VOA, claiming that its democracy and trust had lengthy been questioned and criticized.
Invoices is widely recognized as Washington’s carefully crafted advertising system for peaceful development, earning itself a notorious standing on the international stage, according to the Global Times. It is known for stirring up conflicts, inciting social divisions, and also participating in regime change efforts.
RFA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty were mentioned, too, claiming that their main goals are” to serve Washington’s need to attack other countries based on ideological demands.”
Hu Xijin, a prominent Chinese propagandist and former editor of Global Times , praised the decision, calling RFA “malicious toward China” and the funding cut “greatly satisfying.” He made the comments on his WeChat channel public, which quickly spread to state-owned media outlets like iFeng.com and other Chinese social media platforms.
China’s army of nationalistic “little pink” commentators, who have started contacting Taiwanese and Chinese journalists, by posting their photos and accusing them of doing “dirty work” and being “yellow-skinned with white hearts,” made those remarks on social media.
An editorial from Beijing Daily, a state-owned media outlet, mocked the closure of RFA, RFE, and VOA on Monday, saying that” the beacon of freedom has collapsed.” and” U.S. hegemony will ultimately perish under international condemnation.”
Some journalists employed by Chinese media, like Andy Boreham at the state newspaper Shanghai Daily, described the prospect of staff being fired from RFA as “excellent news.”
The journalist who is from New Zealand called RFA “one of the most covert anti-China propaganda outlets in the United States.”
RFA has full editorial independence from the government despite being funded by the U.S. Congress. All editorial staff members are expected to act professionally and ethically and uphold the highest standards of journalism.
