President Trump’s recent cuts to the Voice of America and other media are seen by China’s government as a welcome development. The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the media’s past reporting on China while state-controlled tabloid Global Times condemned VOA. Additionally, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen hailed the decision as beneficial against misinformation globally.

Recent cuts to the Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S. government media by President Donald Trump may be perceived favorably by the Chinese government. The Chinese Foreign Ministry notably declined to comment on the U.S. domestic policy changes, yet seized the moment to deride the media organizations. “I do not comment on U.S. domestic policy changes,” stated Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the ministry. “But as for the media you mentioned, their bad records in reporting on China are not a secret.”

The Trump administration placed nearly all staff at VOA on leave and halted grants to Radio Free Asia and similar media outlets. Radio Free Asia is known for its comprehensive Chinese-language coverage, focusing on human rights concerns, especially regarding activists and the treatment of ethnic minorities in regions like Xinjiang and Tibet. Meanwhile, the Chinese government contests such allegations of maltreatment.

VOA also offers a Chinese-language website that publishes articles often overlooked by China’s state-controlled media. Within the context of press freedom, China ranks 172 out of 180 countries in the Reporters Without Borders index, highlighting significant restrictions on journalistic expression.

In an editorial this week, the Global Times, a tabloid associated with the Chinese state, expressed disdain for VOA, declaring, “The so-called beacon of freedom, VOA, has now been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag.” Furthermore, former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen greeted Trump’s cuts positively, asserting that it aids in the battle against misinformation. He stated in a written statement, “This is a major contribution to eliminating fake news, disinformation, lies, distortions, incitement, and chaos around the world coming from the propaganda machine that President Trump has stopped funding.”

This series of actions by the Trump administration illustrates a significant shift in U.S. media policy, raising questions about its implications for international perceptions and the global information landscape.

In conclusion, President Trump’s cuts to the Voice of America and other U.S. government media have garnered a favorable reaction from the Chinese government and its proponents. While the move signals a drastic change in U.S. media strategy, it also underscores ongoing tensions surrounding media freedom and international narratives. Positive endorsements from figures like Hun Sen further illuminate the complex dynamics of government-funded media and information dissemination on a global scale.

Original Source: apnews.com

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