RFA Radio Broadcasts to Tibet and China Stopped After U.S. Funding Cut

Radio Free Asia (RFA) has stopped all shortwave radio broadcasts in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Lao after the U.S. Agency for Global Media ended its funding on March 15. The move forced RFA to furlough staff and reduce total airtime from 63 to just 7 hours weekly, with remaining broadcasts relying on non-U.S. relay stations. RFA, funded by the U.S. Congress, has filed a lawsuit claiming the funding cut violated federal law. Despite cuts, RFA continues limited online news in nine languages. RFA broadcasts to regions like Tibet and China where press freedom remains severely restricted.