RFA President: RFA’s cancellation a boon to the Chinese Communist Party
2025.03.15
WASHINGTON - Radio Free Asia (RFA) was informed today by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) that its federal grant agreement, which makes possible RFA’s operations in Asia and globally, has been terminated. RFA’s President and CEO Bay Fang issued the following statement:
The termination of RFA’s grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space. RFA has been foundational in helping U.S. policymakers understand the reality of what’s happening in China and other closed countries, bringing transparency and accountability where there is none. RFA’s breakthrough reporting in Xinjiang led the first Trump Administration to make its declaration of genocide against the Chinese government.
Today’s notice not only disenfranchises the nearly 60 million people who turn to RFA’s reporting on a weekly basis to learn the truth, but it also benefits America’s adversaries at our own expense. We plan to challenge this short-sighted order and pursue whatever means necessary to continue our work and protect our courageous journalists.
美国自由亚洲电台（RFA）于美东时间周六（15日）收到美国全球媒体总署（USAGM）的通知，正式终止对RFA及其合作媒体网络的联邦资助。
根据既定程序，美国国会向USAGM拨款，该机构再负责资助RFA及其他独立的全球新闻机构。不过，美国总统特朗普于周五深夜签署行政命令，要求削减美国全球媒体总署（USAGM）下“非法律规定部门”。
不止USAGM，該行政命令还要求在 “适用法律允许的最大范围内”裁撤其他六個与政府不相关机构（Unrelated government entities)，这些机构包括博物馆管理、无家可归者援助、少数族裔商业发展等领域。
不过，RFA并非该命令提及的“非法律规定部门”，RFA是基于国会通过的《国际广播法》成立的单位，具有法定基础。
周六發送給RFA台長的信件显示，USAGM特别顾问Kari Lake以“代理执行长高级顾问”的名义签署通知，明确表示RFA的联邦资助已被终止，并要求RFA“立即退还任何未承诺使用的资金“，RFA有权在30天内提出上诉。
目前尚不清楚RFA何时及如何结束运营，但由于RFA完全依赖联邦资助，此举对其生存构成极大威胁。
RFA台長方貝（Bay Fang）周六发表声明，表示将挑战该决定。
RFA台长Bay Fang的声明强调：“终止对RFA的资助是对包括中共在内的独裁者和暴君的奖励，他们最希望的就是他们的影响力在资讯领域不受控制。RFA在帮助美国决策者了解中国和其他封闭国家所发生的现实方面一直扮演着奠基性的角色，为没有透明度和问责性的地方带来了透明度和问责性。RFA在新疆的突破性报道，促使第一届特朗普政府对中国政府作出种族灭绝宣布。”
“今天的通知不仅剥夺了近6000万人的权利，他们每周都通过RFA的报道了解真相；而且（这通知）还牺牲了我们自己的利益，使美国的对手受益。我们计划挑战这个短视的命令，并采取一切必要手段，继续我们的工作，保护我们勇敢的记者。”
代表加州的共和党众议员金映玉（Young Kim）周六傍晚在X（前推特）發文指出，“摧毁USAGM平台-尤其是美国之音和自由亚洲电台-将使那些受中国共产党、朝鲜、俄罗斯及自苏联时代以来的其他独裁政权压迫（但仍）热爱自由的人们（自此）失语”。
另一位加州众议员Ami Bera也在X（前推特）发文表示，“RFA在对抗中国影响力方面发挥了至关重要的作用，为暴露在中国政府持续宣传下的受众，提供准确且未经审查的新闻。”他强调：RFA在美中大国竞争的环境下，推动美国价值观，并揭露维吾尔种族灭绝以及北京的秘密活动。
前美国驻俄罗斯大使Michael McFaul形容美国政府此举是“对中国的巨大礼物”，而国际人权组织 “人权观察”（Human Rights Watch）中国部主任王松莲（Maya Wang）则警告：“在新疆与西藏等地，RFA是少数能够提供资讯的媒体之一。RFA的消失将意味着这些地方变成资讯黑洞，这正是中共希望的结果。”
人权观察（Human Rights Watch）亚洲区总监Elaine Pearson在X平台发文表示，“自由亚洲电台在亚洲媒体领域消失，这对我们而言是毁灭性的打击。自由亚洲电台有许多勇敢的记者，他们揭露了专制政府试图掩盖的侵犯人权行为。这（终止资助RFA）是给该地区滥用权力的政府的礼物。”
香港观察（Hong Kong Watch）共同创办人、保守党人权委员会联合创始人兼副主席Benedict Rogers在X平台说，“自由亚洲电台的裁撤引人注目，因为这将有效关闭美国政府为数不多的几个打击中国宣传和接触亚洲各地独裁政权下的人民的工具之一。”
《香港自由新闻》（HKFP）总编辑Tom Grundy在X上说，自由亚洲电台停止广播对北京来说绝对是个好消息。
汉学家、乔治城大学亚洲研究教授伟德宁（Dennis Wilder）在X上质疑说，“这实在令人费解。我们不断抱怨中国在全球发起的恶意讯息宣传活动，但我们正在结束用真相来反击的唯一有效手段之一？请问有没有人能跟我解释一下。”
以下是英文声明：
RFA President: RFA’s cancellation a boon to the Chinese Communist Party
2025.03.15
WASHINGTON - Radio Free Asia (RFA) was informed today by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) that its federal grant agreement, which makes possible RFA’s operations in Asia and globally, has been terminated. RFA’s President and CEO Bay Fang issued the following statement:
The termination of RFA’s grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space. RFA has been foundational in helping U.S. policymakers understand the reality of what’s happening in China and other closed countries, bringing transparency and accountability where there is none. RFA’s breakthrough reporting in Xinjiang led the first Trump Administration to make its declaration of genocide against the Chinese government.
Today’s notice not only disenfranchises the nearly 60 million people who turn to RFA’s reporting on a weekly basis to learn the truth, but it also benefits America’s adversaries at our own expense. We plan to challenge this short-sighted order and pursue whatever means necessary to continue our work and protect our courageous journalists.