FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Freedom of Expression in Asia

Original title: THE ASSAULT ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN ASIA

January 1, 2022

freedom of expression human rights Asia-Pacific censorship journalism foreign policy disinformation

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing informs potential U.S. foreign policy and funding decisions regarding international media support and human rights advocacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Journalists in Asia

They face legal risks, detention, and physical threats in countries where freedom of expression is restricted.

Radio Free Asia

The organization is slated to receive increased funding through the Innovation and Competition Act.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2022.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy held a hearing to examine the decline of free speech and press freedom in several Asian nations. Witnesses and senators discussed the impact of authoritarian policies, state-sponsored censorship, and the spread of in the region.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on March 30, 2022, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
China, Burma, and Vietnam were identified as being among the top five global jailers of journalists in 2021.
The subcommittee discussed the use of the National Security Law in Hong Kong to restrict political activity.
Taiwan was identified as a primary target for disinformation campaigns originating from Beijing.
The Senate-passed Innovation and Competition Act included the largest funding increase in the 25-year history of Radio Free Asia.
The hearing addressed the use of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Cambodian government to justify crackdowns on journalists and opposition figures.

Why It Matters

This hearing informs potential U.S. foreign policy and funding decisions regarding international media support and human rights advocacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

To examine the state of freedom of expression and the press in Asia, specifically focusing on censorship and repression in countries like China, Burma, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Which countries were highlighted as having significant issues with press freedom?

The hearing specifically mentioned China, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Increased Funding for International Broadcasting

The document highlights a strategic shift toward increasing funding for Radio Free Asia as a counter-measure to foreign state-sponsored propaganda.

Radio Free Asia

Connected Entities

personJoey Siu“Policy Advisor, Hong Kong Watch”Map →

personXi Jinping“President of the People's Republic of China”Map →

organizationRadio Free Asia“U.S.-funded media organization”Map →

personMitt Romney“U.S. Senator from Utah”Map →

personSarah Cook“Research Director for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Freedom House”Map →

personMaria Ressa“2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Co-Founder of Rappler”Map →

personEdward J. Markey“U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, Subcommittee Chairman”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy50
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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