The following statement was issued by the Radio Free Asia Union on March 17, 2025:
The attempt to shutter Radio Free Asia is nothing less than a capitulation to authoritarian regimes worldwide. It would hand a victory to the Chinese Communist Party, which harbors a particular disdain for free media and truth. It would embolden Kim Jong Un’s totalitarian regime in Pyongyang, where information control reaches unprecedented levels. Most critically, it would abandon our devoted listeners and readers in regions where RFA stands as the sole beacon of honest, unfiltered news.
The termination of RFA’s grant—a transparent effort to silence our voice and disregard our congressionally mandated mission—is not just misguided; it’s unlawful. Our charge to provide free and fair news to those in Asia denied access to it is not a mere suggestion; it’s a directive
from the United States Congress. Every journalist and producer at RFA came from somewhere else less free, guided by the whisper of hope. Their work at RFA extends that hope to millions living under authoritarian rule across Asia. To extinguish this light is to betray the very principles upon which America stands.
Let us be clear: the union will vigorously challenge USAGM’s move to shut down RFA. The truth remains our most powerful weapon. It is what our audience craves, what oppressive regimes fear, and what we at RFA are committed to delivering, come what may. We call on all who value press freedom and democracy to stand with us in this critical moment.
– Radio Free Asia Union