Radio Free Asia: A Propaganda Machine for US Interests
An In-Depth Look at the Misinformation and Manipulation Tactics of RFA, and the Harmful Consequences of U.S. Interventionism
Radio Free Asia (RFA) is a non-profit news organization that broadcasts news, information, and commentary to Asian countries where free press is restricted or censored. However, RFA's origins and funding sources raise questions about its independence and impartiality.
RFA was founded in 1996 by the International Broadcasting Bureau, a government agency that operates under the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees US government-funded international media. The USAGM, in turn, reports to the US Secretary of State. While RFA claims to be independent and nonpartisan, its founding and funding sources suggest otherwise.
RFA's predecessor, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was founded by the CIA in the 1950s as part of a covert operation to promote anti-communist propaganda in Eastern Europe. Similarly, RFA was created by the US government as a tool for advancing its foreign policy goals in Asia.
Despite its stated mission of promoting press freedom and human rights, RFA has been accused of serving as a mouthpiece for US government propaganda. In 2011, WikiLeaks released US diplomatic cables that showed RFA's close ties to the US government and its role in furthering US foreign policy objectives in Asia.
One cable revealed that RFA had been used by the US government to spread disinformation about the North Korean regime. The cable described how RFA's broadcasts were used to promote regime change in North Korea by spreading false information about the country's leadership and military capabilities. Another cable showed that RFA had been instructed to promote a US-friendly message to the people of Myanmar (Burma) during the country's democratic transition.
In 2020, Radio Free Asia (RFA) was caught spreading false information about China's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March of that year, RFA published an article claiming that the Chinese government had sealed off an entire province, Hubei, in order to contain the virus. This claim was quickly debunked by other news outlets and independent sources, who pointed out that while the city of Wuhan in Hubei province was indeed placed under lockdown, the rest of the province remained open. The article was then changed to propagandize about vigilantism, claiming that residents from surrounding provinces were blocking roads by themselves with ‘bricks and other obstructions’.
Furthermore, RFA's reporting on the situation in Xinjiang has also come under scrutiny. In 2019, RFA published an article claiming that Uighur Muslims were being forced to eat pork and drink alcohol in re-education camps. However, this claim was debunked by several independent sources which found no evidence of such practices in the camps.
RFA has also been accused of promoting a biased and one-sided view of events in Asia. The organization's coverage of countries such as China and North Korea is heavily skewed towards a negative portrayal, often ignoring the complexities and nuances of the situations on the ground. This has led to concerns that RFA's reporting is more focused on advancing a particular political agenda than on providing accurate and balanced news coverage.
In addition to its questionable funding sources and biased reporting, RFA violates journalistic ethics by using anonymous sources and publishing unverified or unsubstantiated information.
Despite these criticisms, RFA continues to operate and expand its reach in Asia. In 2019, the US government allocated $44 million in funding for RFA and its sister organization, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. This funding, along with RFA's ties to the US government and its history of promoting US foreign policy objectives, raise serious questions about the organization's independence and credibility as a news source.