Taxpayer-funded PBS stations produced a pro-Beijing documentary — and didn’t disclose China ties The stations receive millions in federal funds every year

Two PBS affiliate stations — which receive millions in taxpayer funding every year — are airing a pro-Beijing documentary, which was produced in conjunction with China Global Television Network, a Chinese media outlet controlled by the country's communist government.

What are the details?

Investigative reporter Chuck Ross broke the news Thursday about the film, "Voices from the Frontline: China's War on Poverty," which touts Chinese President Xi Jinping's plan to end poverty in the country by 2020.

PBS affiliate KOCE, known as PBS SoCal, helped produce the film and premiered it Monday. KCET, which merged with KOCE in 2018, will air the show on Saturday. Other PBS affiliates, including in Idaho and Las Vegas, have either already aired the film or plan to do so later this month.

The one-hour documentary touts Chinese President Xi Jinping's initiative to alleviate poverty in China by this year.

"In the last forty years, China's economic development has lifted more than 700 people out of poverty," reads the introductory script in the film.

"To President Xi Jinping, ending poverty is his most important task," the script states.

In his report, Ross noted that the film does not disclose CGTN's links to the Chinese government nor does it disclose film producer Robert Lawrence Kuhn's ties to officials at China's State Council Information Office, which reportedly specializes in foreign propaganda.

In February 2019, CGTN, China's primary state broadcaster, filed with the U.S. government as a foreign agent of the Chinese government, yet this goes without mention in the film.
What else?

According to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting records, KCET received $5.6 million in federal funding last year, and more...

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