Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Mar. 19: The Chinese government and its state-controlled media have welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to shut down Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), including their Tibetan language services. The move follows an executive order signed by Trump to dismantle the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the organization overseeing these outlets.
China’s state-run Global Times ridiculed the cuts, describing VOA as a “so-called beacon of freedom” that had been “discarded by its own government like a dirty rag.” Similarly, the Beijing Daily commended the cuts, accusing VOA of spreading false information about China. Former Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin also hailed the move, calling it “great news” on social media.
Critics warn that the closure of these services will weaken U.S. efforts to counter authoritarian disinformation and provide independent news coverage in regions with restricted press freedom. Clayton Weimers, U.S. executive director of Reporters Without Borders, cautioned that China would be the “biggest winner” of this decision, as it seeks to fill the void left by American-backed media with its own state-controlled narratives.
The issue was raised during the ongoing budget session of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, where lawmakers expressed deep concern over the impact of dismantling VOA and RFA on Tibetans inside Tibet, who rely on these broadcasts for uncensored information. MP Dorjee Tsetan urged CTA President Penpa Tsering to formally appeal to the U.S. administration, as he did previously when funding for Tibet programs faced potential cuts. President Tsering assured Parliament that he is closely monitoring the situation, noting that the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and the Office of Tibet in Washington, D.C., are engaging with U.S. lawmakers to push for continued support.
Tibetans on social media reacted with distress to the decision, with many emphasizing the crucial role of these services in breaking China’s media blockade. “I was deeply saddened to learn about the temporary suspension of VOA and RFA, including their Tibetan language programs. Over the years, I have met several Tibetans from Tibet who, after long conversations, confided in me that they secretly watched and listened to these broadcasts. Many would even climb high into the mountains just to tune in, desperate for news from beyond the iron grip of the Chinese Communist regime. They told me it was the only reliable source of information they had. Shutting them down, even temporarily, is like extinguishing the last flicker of hope for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet,” one Tibetan netizen wrote.
Advocacy groups also condemned the move, warning of its long-term consequences. The Tibet Action Institute (TAI) stressed that VOA and RFA Tibetan services have been essential in exposing human rights abuses in Tibet and countering Chinese state propaganda. “Without RFA and VOA Tibetan Services, the CCP propaganda narrative will go unchallenged and dangerously undermine the pursuit of reality and truth, allowing their authoritarian regime to operate without scrutiny,” TAI wrote.
One Response
Trump has no respect for democracy, human rights, religious freedom and human decency!
He has no political experience or political acumen. He has created an illusory narrative of making America great again (MAGA) and coned most Americans. He has very little value of matrimonial loyalty or filial piety! He has the tendency to be a fascist dictator like Putin and Xi Jinping! I have written in these pages that Trump will destroy NATO and America if he becomes the president again! Today, he is presiding over the demise of America as the lone super power! American leaders assiduously built a redoubtable group of nations to prop up the American power in every corner of the world by giving security to like minded democracies and in return the countries accepting American hegemony in their respective regions. Trump has up ended the whole construct that has spanned 80 years and alienated every friendly ally in Europe, Asia and North America. He has turned his back to the traditional democratic allies in every continent and instead cozied up with Putin’s Russia! He made Ukraine the sacrificial goat to suck up to Putin. It’s a monumental tragedy for Ukraine exactly like India made Tibet a sacrificial goat for Sino-India detente!
In the US, Trump and his lap dog Elon Musk are destroying all the projection of American power in the name of USAID across the world! He has shutdown the most important vehicle of disseminating American values, democracy and good governance through twin stations of VOA and RFA to totalitarian regimes of Eastern Soviet block and Asian totalitarian regimes such as communist China! It was to bring the truth from American perspective about the world and the countries where it was broadcast. The communist regimes are known only for propaganda and they never tell the truth to the people. America had the confidence to tell the truth not only to the oppressed people of the communist block but even to its people because America was not fearful of its people like the communist regimes! The communist regimes have no mandate to rule through universal suffrage but only through the might of the gun. So, these regimes use the good name of the people as a shield for clinging to power (People’s Republic of China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea DPRK etc) but they never trust the people and always remained wary of their own people! The American broadcasts were to expose the hypocrisy of the odious dictatorial communist regimes of Eastern Europe and Asia. No wonder the Chinese Communists are rubbing their hands in glee as Trump shuts down the American broadcasts which they tried to jam on the airwaves and physically made it a crime to listen to them in occupied Tibet! It’s a great loss for the Tibetans in occupied Tibet and even those Tibetans living in India, Nepal and Bhutan! When it was first introduced way back in mid-1970s, there was great excitement and early in the morning at 5.30, people were up to listen to the new phenomenon of receiving world news in our own language! The Chinese were jamming it by playing another parallel Tibetan news which made it extremely difficult to hear the VOA/RFA Tibetan broadcast! I am confident that after Trump’s four year stint in office, he will be turfed out owing to old age! He will be 82 by the time his Presidentship runs out and it will be humanly impossible for his cognitive impulses to function. The next US President from the Democratic Party will reinstate most of Trump’s irresponsible acts of demolition! Trump is making Russia and communist China great again! He has sided with Russia by throwing President Zelenskyy under the bus. He is making China great again by thrashing the American alliance (NATO+ AUSTRALIA, JAPAN and SOUTH KOREA) which is the only deterrent against Chinese ambition to conquer Taiwan! He is weak on Russia and China but a bully to all former friends of America! He will be remembered as the Kali of the western democracy!