Authoritarian regimes and political elites across the Asia-Pacific are increasingly using economic pressure to suppress press freedom, a new global report revealed.
According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, twenty out of 32 countries and territories in the region saw declines in their economic indicators, signaling worsening conditions for independent journalism.
The report cited the widespread use of financial control as a “systematic method” to stifle critical voices and restrict access to reliable information.
“The government has a tight grip on media ownership, allowing them to interfere in outlets’ editorial choices,” the report said.
North Korea (179), China (178), and Vietnam (173) were listed among the worst offenders. In these countries, media either function as direct propaganda tools or are controlled by groups tied to ruling Communist parties.
Independent reporting is largely driven by freelancers operating underground, with little to no financial security, while foreign media outlets risk being blacklisted without notice.
The report warned that repression is spreading throughout the region, often modeled after China’s approach.
In Myanmar (169), where the military seized power in 2021, most independent outlets have been dismantled, with the remaining few operating from exile or underground under severe economic strain.
Cambodia (161) and Hong Kong (140) also saw heightened crackdowns, leading to newsroom closures and journalists fleeing into exile, often financially unsupported.
In Afghanistan (175), at least 12 outlets shut down in 2024 due to new Taliban directives.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the March 2025 decision by President Donald Trump resulted in the suspension of Radio Free Asia’s shortwave broadcasts in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Lao, along with the furlough of most US-based staff, including at-risk visa holders.
The report said this risks turning “entire regions into information blackouts.”
Elsewhere, media concentration poses serious threats to pluralism. In India (151), Indonesia (127), and Malaysia (88), politically connected conglomerates dominate news outlets.
In Thailand (85), major media houses maintain close ties with the military and royal elites, who influence content. Mongolia (102) also faces increasing media capture by politically aligned business interests.
In Pakistan (158), independent outlets are reportedly threatened with withdrawal of government advertising contracts.
The report noted that even in democratic contexts, media are not immune to financial pressure. Taiwan (24) saw its public English-language broadcaster TaiwanPlus suffer significant funding cuts from an opposition-controlled parliament.
In Australia (29), the dominance of a few large media companies continues to limit diverse perspectives, with independent outlets struggling to survive.
The findings underline a growing regional pattern in which economic tactics—not just legal or violent means—are used to undermine press freedom and silence dissent.
