On March 18, 2025, China and Cambodia expressed support for US President Donald Trump’s decision to halt funding for several US-funded media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA). The move, part of Trump’s broader federal spending cuts, has drawn attention from international figures.
China’s foreign ministry reacted by stating that it does not comment on US domestic policies but noted that some of the US media outlets targeted by Trump had a “notorious” reputation for their reporting on China. The state-backed nationalist publication, Global Times, referred to VOA as a “lie factory” and criticized its portrayal of China, describing it as biased.
RFA, established to provide independent news in regions with restricted press, such as China and North Korea, has been particularly critical of the Chinese government, covering sensitive topics like human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet, as well as Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.
Former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, who ruled with an iron fist for decades, supported Trump’s move. Hun Sen, who has faced criticism from US outlets like VOA and RFA for his autocratic rule, praised Trump for “combating fake news” by cutting funding to US government-backed media.
This development follows China’s previous actions in 2020, when it ordered US media outlets, including VOA, to disclose detailed information about their operations in the country. The tensions between the US and China over media freedom have escalated in recent years, with several journalists expelled from China.
The news has sparked discussions about the role of government-funded media and its influence on international relations, especially concerning press freedom in authoritarian regimes.
