By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
On March 18, 2025, Beijing and Phnom Penh expressed support for President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze funding for US-funded media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe.
China criticized these outlets for their controversial reporting on the country, particularly on sensitive issues like human rights in Xinjiang and Tibet.
The Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, stated, “It is no secret that some of the US media you mentioned have a notorious track record in reporting on China.”
The state-backed tabloid Global Times went further, calling VOA a “lie factory” and claiming, “The demonising narratives propagated by VOA will ultimately become a laughingstock of the times.”
In Cambodia, former autocratic leader Hun Sen praised Trump’s decision, hailing it as a courageous step in combating “fake news.”
Hun Sen, who had long faced criticism from these media outlets, expressed support for Trump, saying the move demonstrated “courage to lead the world in combating fake news, starting with news outlets funded by the US government.”
This decision follows a history of tensions between the US and China, especially after Beijing expelled US journalists in 2020.
Both nations view these media outlets as instrumental in spreading narratives that challenge their political structures, with Trump’s move aligning with their interests in curbing what they perceive as biased or harmful foreign reporting.
