Steven Richards
The American agency of global media sponsored hundreds of visas over many years, that foreign journalists would come to work for their subsidiary Voice of America, some of which were awarded to employees associated with Chinese state media, in accordance with acts checked by Only a message.
Employing an agency over 400 foreign journalists, from around 2009 to the end of Biden administration, raises questions due to the liberal utilize of J1 cultural exchange visas, which are not intended for utilize as a general work permit.
Employment documents were discovered by a wide review of the United States Agency for global media by senior adviser Kari Lake and its employees ordered by the Trump administration, which is trying reorganize the agency and return it to its statutory role.
The work is based on Fears of the first Trump administrationdiscovered by the president who managed the agency, Michael Pack. A week before he took the office of President Joe Biden, Pack submitted a formal application to the Office of the General of the State Department for full investigation in matters of security, finance and other-in this alleged improper utilize of visas j1-he said that he discovered in Usagm during his seven-month term.
National security protocols
Now, when Trump returned to power, the Republicans of House started a probe for the internships of employing agencies and checking foreign domestic employees last month.
Usagm was founded in the 1990s to supervise various media entities of the US government, including Voice of America, which was established During World War II Fight the axis propaganda and used during the Cold War to promote Western and American values for the iron curtain of the Soviet Union.
A review ordered by the former Pack director at the turn of 2020 and at the beginning of 2021. He came to the conclusion that the agency The relevant “national security protocols” and personnel ‘security practices, as well as “largely unsatisfied” repetitive warnings from the federal intelligence and staff offices, could not be followed. Only a message previously reported.
The newly written provisions regarding employment confirm some other conclusions from the package review, including allegations that Usagm not only relied on J-1 visas to hire foreigners, in violation of the order of President Trump “Buy American and Hire American”, but these were “rubber submitting” of the application and renewal of the staff’s demands.
Usually, Wiz J1 owners are obliged to return to family countries after the program is completed for at least two years before applying for stay in the United States. However, employment files show that many foreigners employed by VOA were issued green cards shortly after or during their term. Recipients J1 qualify for this requirement resigned under certain conditionsOne of which is at the request of the US government agency to the State Department.
However, at that time, an independent law firm employed by Pack to carry out a review was unable to determine how many foreigners were employed by means of visas or their identification. . State Department portal for Wiz J-1 He says that their application includes professors, students, researchers, interns, audit and “summer work travel”, but does not mention journalists or federal employees.
Disturbing countries
Although there are many foreign USAGM employees who come from US allies, such as South Korea, France or Great Britain, almost 100 out of over 400 journalists employed by Usagm are citizens of countries that can present special security concerns. These countries include the geopolitical rivals of the United States, such as China and Russia, as well as Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Somalia, and habitats of terrorism.
After taking control of USAGM and VOA, the Trump administration began to finish the program and will no longer sponsor the visa j1 for agency employees, a clerk who refused to recognize Only a message. Very few Wiz J1 owners remain employed in VOA and are currently withdrawn.
Safety concerns for the first time reported during the Pack Agency Review remained without access for years, because the program survived subsequent administrations. According to data, some Chinese citizens employed by VOA under the Visa J1 program have direct connections with Chinese media operation, in accordance with Only a message Review of their public profiles and employee documentation.
Former CCP mouthpiece employees
VOA and USAGM employed at least three China citizens who worked for Chinese media controlled by the communist party before or after working with the United States Media Agency, show social media profiles.
One employee named Yiyi Yang, currently works as a “senior digital video producer” in VOA, According to her public LinkedIn profile. He notes in his CV that she worked at Xinhua News Agency and China Global Television Network, both Chinese media, before joining VOA. Xinhua is described as Official State Press Agency Prc.
According to the digital CV, Yang worked as an intern in Xinhua from October to November 2013. The mouth is A necessary tool for Chinese propaganda And, as his head says, the secretary of the FU Hua party, “he will never leave the party line, even for a minute, nor will they err from the path established by the Secretary General XI Jinping.”
After the departure of Xinhua, Yang provided work as a production assistant in China Global Television Network, commonly known as CGTN, which is the international arm of Chinese supported by the sender of China Central Television.
Chinese president XI Jinping created CGTN in 2017By changing the international CCTV networks and submitted the task of up-to-date sale “to tell the story of China well” as a measuring the external arm of the Communist Party propaganda.
Another VOA employee named Ziyang Wang started working in a store in June 2013 as a “video journalist and line producer”, According to his public LinkedIn profile. During bachelor’s education at the University of China in Nanjing, Wang He worked as a video editor On Phoenix tv-Most of the state outlets based in southern China, near Hong Kong. The company is served by a company belonging to Liu Changle, a veteran of both the Chinese army and the Chinese state media.
In one case, another Chinese citizen who worked directly at the American Global Media Agency joined the Chinese state sender of CGTN immediately after leaving the Federal Agency. Kaishuo zhao, According to her public LinkedIn profileHe joined the USAGM in 2017 as a “video producer”. Zhao has extensive experience in the American media, which included local and national stores, including leftist VOX.
Immediately after leaving VOA in March 2022, which strictly consistent with the provisions of employees checked by Only a messageZhao joined CGTN America as “Program producer”, according to her website LinkedIn.
In the years that include, there were almost 50 Chinese citizens Only a message They cannot be immediately associated with any public profile.
Neither Yang nor Zhao responded to requests for a comment from Only a message. Wang could not be contacted with a comment.
Congress demands documentation
Last month, the Chamber Supervision Committee He launched the probe In the American Global Media Agency focusing on the allegations that his leadership has been improperly using the visa system J1 for years and it was not possible to properly check those employed by foreign citizens. The findings that some Chinese citizens employed by the agency had connections with state media may become the main purpose of their probe.
The chairman of the supervision James Comer and the Subcommittee for the Government implementation of the Chairwoman of the President of Marjorie Taylor Greene sent a letter to the lake in June, asking for documentation about the practices of employing agencies, especially surrounding foreigners.
“The Supervision and Government Reform Committee supervises [USAGM]Particularly long in the field of security tightened by improper management – a situation that has remained in the agency for years “,”, ” Comer and Greene wrote.
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Steven Richards is only a news reporter.
