Original title: Chinese media "take over" South Pacific radio, and Australia is anxious again
[Compiled/Observer Network Ma Xue]
Although the Internet has been widely popular, for people living in Pacific island countries, radio is still the most important way to obtain information, especially when encountering natural disasters, it is a life-saving straw.
ABC ended its shortwave service in the Pacific last year. Australian media recently reported that Chinese media "take over" some of the frequency, which made Australia's "anxiety" recur.
saves money, Australia abandons shortwave service
"China takes over Australian Broadcasting Corporation's shortwave business in the Pacific region", The Australian reported on the 22nd on this topic, and mentioned that South Pacific island country Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister is receiving high-standard reception in China.
Screenshot of the Australian report
The Australian exaggerated that these events indicate the increasingly competitive soft power in the Pacific region and criticized the Australian government for its disadvantage in this regard.
reported that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ended its international shortwave services last year, including broadcasts for Papua New Guinea and the Pacific region, believing that these broadcasts only serve limited audiences and that new ways of providing content emerge.
In January 2017, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ended its shortwave service in northern Australia and remote areas of the Pacific.
Australia pointed out at the time that the decision was made because shortwave technology was outdated, and ending shortwave services could cut $1.9 million and spend money on expanding content and services.
South Pacific Island Country Vanuatu Prime Minister Salvi once formally opposed the decision to end this shortwave service in his opinion submitted to a parliamentary investigation:
"Vanuatu attaches great importance to close ties with Australia on many levels, but this strange decision made by the ABC to end shortwave services in our region seems to be inconsistent with the Australian government's recent strongly expressed goals."
Although the Internet has become the main way for people to obtain information, and broadcast audiences have shrunk, shortwave broadcasting still plays an important role in the Pacific Island Country where the economy is relatively backward.
Vanuatu local resident Ben Lovo told the news that when he was attacked by Typhoon Pam in 2015, he used shortwave radio to issue warnings to four villages, thus lifting hundreds of people out of danger. (Photo source: New Zealand National Radio)
According to the Australian newspaper "Century" report, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation stated in 2013 that it would not easily give up short-wave services for Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island countries.
ABC pointed out at the time that the shortwave broadcast of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is the most common source of news for residents of the Pacific region and those living in the region, and the most convenient way for them to obtain hazard warnings when encountering natural disasters or regional conflicts.
However, four years later, the ABC ended the business to save money.
Chinese media "take over", and Australia is anxious
The Australian reported on the 22nd that technician Peter Marks estimated based on public data that as many as 10 frequencies that were used by Australian radio stations will now be used to broadcast China International Radio programs, including radio frequencies that can be received by New Caledonia , Vanuatu, Fiji , Samoa , Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.
Marcos told ABC News that "as the shortwaves of the Australian radio stations have been cancelled, many of the exact frequencies we used in the past have now been taken over by Chinese radio stations targeting the Asia-Pacific region." Nigel Holmes, former transmission manager for Australian Radio, told The Australian that two former radio stations (9580khz and 7240khz) are now broadcasting Chinese radio stations' programs targeting Australia.
Helms believes that it was "strange" for ABC to terminate shortwave services: "These channels were scrambled when ABC chose to give up shortwave broadcasts for the region."
"The scale of Chinese media efforts for this is very large," said Jemima Garrett, a journalist from the Pacific Islands. China is expanding its media influence in the region.
Shortwave broadcasting is the only available communication method when it hits a typhoon. (Photo source: ABC News)
reported that the Australian National Deputy Leader Bridget McKenzie said last year that the end of shortwave was "deeply worrying". Graeme Dobell of the Australian Institute of Strategic Policy said that China Radio International is entering the Pacific:
"Many other participants see the future of shortwave. As ABC exits the South Pacific, China Radio International is making a big investment to take over available short-wave slots and build new transmitters. "
ABC News quoted Matthew Dornan of Australia's as saying that many decisions made by ABC, including the decision to terminate shortwave services, have limited its influence in the region.
" Many of the decisions made by ABC were due to fund cuts, which led to a decline in business volume in the Pacific and a decline in reporting quality in the Pacific region. "He said.
"That's the problem, commercial radio reports on the Pacific are very bad, and Australians can only rely on the ABC to get news about the region. "Under pressure, the Australian government re-examines
Faced with public opinion pressure, the Australian government began to review overseas broadcasting services.
Australian Foreign Minister Bishop statement said that stopping shortwave services to the Pacific region is an independent decision made by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Bishop emphasized that the Australian government has clearly expressed its vision to maintain ties with the Pacific region, which is one of Australia's "highest foreign policy priorities".
Australian Minister of International Development and Pacific Affairs Fiela Wanti Wells (Concetta) Fierravanti-Wells said that the Australian government had expressed concern at the time that the decision to end shortwave may cause communication blind spots in many vulnerable areas in the Pacific.
Shortwave broadcasting is still an important way for people in the Pacific island countries to obtain information. (Photo source: ABC News)
She said, "The government is currently re-examining overseas broadcasting services in the Asia-Pacific region. ”
The Australian reported that after some committee members questioned the ABC’s practices, ABC is reviewing the decision to end international shortwave services as part of a broader consideration of regional broadcasting. According to ABC News, Claire Moore, a labor spokesman for International Development and Pacific Affairs in Australia, said she was not surprised that the Chinese media “take over” the frequency Australia used: “People in Pacific island countries are telling us that in their world, shortwave is a real and reliable mechanism that they rely on and are familiar with. "
Moore pointed out, "Look at whether shortwave is available, if it is used and we give up, then other players will come in, which is always a problem. "
Moore believes that the Australian government allowed the Australian broadcaster to abandon short-wave broadcasts in the Pacific region," causing huge losses to national interests. "
" It is important to keep some services until we are convinced that shortwaves are absolutely no longer needed. ”
Faced with the Australian government’s scrutiny, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation emphasized that the decision had been fully considered.
An ABC spokeswoman said the company wanted to submit a review opinion, emphasizing “the significant contribution of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to maintain and develop the relationship between Australia and its neighbors. "
She noted, "As the region becomes more geopolitical, this role will become more important. "
" ABC's international strategic focus is to connect with audiences around the world in the most effective ways possible.This is a cross-platform approach to hybrid broadcasting and digital, including FM broadcasting in the Pacific, TV in the Asia-Pacific region, and digital content and services worldwide. ”
