HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020553.jpg

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Extraction Summary

4
People
6
Organizations
4
Locations
4
Events
2
Relationships
3
Quotes

Document Information

Type: Government report (house oversight committee)
File Size: 1.89 MB
Summary

This page from a House Oversight Committee report (stamped HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020553) details the influence of the Chinese government on US broadcasters Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia. It describes how pressure from the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, led VOA's Mandarin service to shift from critical reporting on Chinese history to 'soft' content like 'Cultural Odyssey' and English teaching segments. The document also details internal conflicts, including a 2011 budget fight and the 2012 hiring and subsequent firing of a service head following a controversial interview that angered the PRC. There is no mention of Jeffrey Epstein in this specific document.

People (4)

Name Role Context
Jessica Beinecke English teacher / TV personality
Featured in a VOA program which launched her career in mainland China.
Cao Yaxue Dissident / Blogger
Runs a human rights blog; mentioned as an example of content VOA avoided after the dismissal of the service head.
Unnamed Female Head of Service Former VOA Mandarin Service Head
Chinese immigrant, former dissident, hired in 2012, fired over a controversial interview that angered the PRC.
Unnamed VOA TV Editor Editor
Publicly pledged allegiance to China at an embassy event.

Organizations (6)

Name Type Context
Voice of America (VOA)
US broadcaster; subject of the report regarding Chinese influence on its Mandarin service.
Radio Free Asia
Mentioned alongside VOA as a target of Chinese influence.
Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC
Engaged in annual meetings with VOA leadership to influence content.
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Sought to cut 65% of the Mandarin service workforce in 2011.
Congress
Lobbied by VOA reporters to restore budget cuts.
House Oversight Committee
Indicated by the document footer stamp.

Timeline (4 events)

2009
VOA cut a radio program on modern Chinese history.
US/Global
VOA
2011
Broadcasting Board of Governors attempted 65% workforce cut; overturned by Congress.
Washington, DC
BBG VOA Staff Congress
2012
Hiring of first female Chinese head of service.
Washington, DC
VOA
November 2018
Gathering cancelled by Beijing and moved to Singapore.
Beijing/Singapore

Locations (4)

Location Context
Location of a cancelled gathering.
Location where the Beijing gathering was moved.
Location of the Chinese Embassy.
The country exerting influence over the broadcasters.

Relationships (2)

Chinese Embassy Political Pressure/Influence VOA Mandarin Service
Embassy officials held annual meetings to voice opinions on content; reached out to hosts.
Jessica Beinecke Employment/Promotion VOA
Featured in a program that launched her career.

Key Quotes (3)

"Cultural Odyssey ate up one-third of the Mandarin service’s travel budget."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020553.jpg
Quote #1
"VOA officials internally praised these programs as both 'non-political and non-sensitive'"
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020553.jpg
Quote #2
"One of VOA’s TV editors even publicly pledged his allegiance to China at an embassy event."
Source
HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_020553.jpg
Quote #3

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