A major Spanish-language radio station in Mexico—with enough wattage to be heard in large swathes across the border in Southern California—was recently purchased by an entity with ties to a pro-Beijing television network, raising concerns that the station could soon beam the Chinese regime’s propaganda into the United States and Mexico.
According to public FCC (Federal Communications Commission) filings, the Tijuana-based AM radio station XEWW 690 was purchased by a New York investment firm, H&H Group, in mid-July.
“The applicant proposes to provide a full range of Mandarin Chinese language programming,” according to the filing, “including music, entertainment, weather reports, local (Los Angeles) traffic reports, and local Chinese community news.”
Since XEWW is a Mexican radio station, the purchase doesn’t need the FCC’s approval. However, the FCC must approve the transfer of transmission rights from the station’s previous owner, GLR Services, to its new owner.
According to a coverage map by Radio Locator, XEWW’s potential audience includes much of Southern California. There is a large Chinese population in the hubs of Los Angeles and San Diego.
A look into H&H Group’s background reveals ties to Phoenix TV, a Hong Kong-based broadcaster that is owned by a former Chinese military officer and has close ties to Beijing officials.
Sarah Cook, a China expert at human-rights group Freedom House, told U.S. Congress in May 2017 testimony that Phoenix TV was “an example of a Chinese propaganda outlet not directly owned by the Beijing government.” China’s state broadcaster, CCTV, has a 10-percent stake in Phoenix.
H&H’s majority stake—97 percent, to be exact—is held by Vivian Huo, a Beijing native and naturalized U.S. citizen. On the company’s website, Jackie Pang is listed as a senior adviser. She is, according to her LinkedIn page, the producer and host of a financial news program on Phoenix TV.
