China's Expanding Tibetan Radio Push Amid Information Clampdown

In an aggressive move to influence narratives within the Tibet Autonomous Region, China is accelerating the expansion of its Tibetan-language radio broadcasting. This growth in state media comes as access for external journalists is increasingly restricted, presenting challenges for those seeking non-governmental sources of information, reports Phayul.

Phayul, referencing assessments by Reporters Without Borders, notes a significant boost in programming by China National Radio. The station has expanded from a single show to 17 segments in a matter of months, with its expansion reflected in global shortwave allocations managed by the High Frequency Coordination Conference.

This surge in state broadcast content coincides troublingly with the reduction of Tibetan-language programming from outlets like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, which have historically reported on human rights, religion, and social issues. Without these perspectives, RSF warns that state narratives, which often propagate Communist Party ideologies and blame external entities for local tensions, face minimal challenge.

RSF’s Aleksandra Bielakowska calls the radio expansion a key part of China's strategy to control the informational landscape, urging democratic nations to support independent Tibetan journalism. The absence of diverse media undermines accountability and entrenches China’s media dominance, which follows official directives to propagate national ideals, a strategy highlighted by media official Shen Haixiong last year.

Outside radio, China is also strengthening its grip on television, curtailing private broadcasting capabilities while distributing state-controlled systems to every county, according to reports. Such efforts underscore the regime's broader goal of pervasive narrative control in a region labeled by RSF as an 'information black hole.'