/ n& g9 c. X) s. _6 `这将意味着美国政府对中国广播的时代的结束。美国之音从1942年开始一直是受众最多的西方中文广播机构。根据美国广播理事会最新市场调查,美国之音中文广播在中国的广播听众超过BBC和自由亚洲电台的总和。9 e6 I/ u" f. J& `! Z f5 ~3 y. ~2 [
5 J4 E. v/ \9 s& V7 jVOA radio broadcasts to China signing off " B3 r# [0 M- BCritics point out Sino-cast expansion ) ^1 u' b2 f2 e- d3 U( N% }- H* i5 h. G5 }. p$ k( J+ k
The Obama administration will cancel shortwave radio broadcasts by Voice of America into China this year, as Beijing is expanding its propaganda operations in the United States and around the world.) c3 x2 Q- ^# s+ ]2 X+ d7 X5 [5 r
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Critics of the broadcasting cuts, announced Monday, said major reductions in staff and shortwave broadcasts will sharply curtail an important outlet for unfiltered news and information for large numbers of people in China, especially areas such as Tibet and western Xinjiang province, where pro-democracy forces are opposing Chinese rule.' C5 _1 |1 y* a' @4 D
7 [8 p _& J/ \5 A# D5 }7 p0 [“This is another alarming sign that America is cowering before China‘s gangster regime,” said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, California Republican and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “The Chinese people are our greatest allies, and the free flow of information is our greatest weapon.” " N0 G( @: S) g( T* S + {0 ], U! g3 n( \: X, MThe cuts were outlined as a cost-cutting measure in the fiscal 2012 budget report of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, VOA’s parent agency. The plan calls for shifting the focus from shortwave to digital media, such as Internet broadcasts. + I6 W$ i% e7 S4 L1 i1 n' H( A1 J3 U
The plan was announced at a recent meeting of China branch employees by VOA Director Dan Austin, who said he supports the administration plan, despite opposition within the unit.
