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A Study on China’s Image Construction in the New Straits Times’ Reportage of the South China Sea Based on Appraisal Theory

Author(s)

Hui Zhao

Affiliation(s)

University of Sanya, Sanya, Hainan, China

Abstract

This study, grounded in the evaluative framework of the appraisal theory and employing corpus analysis methodology with the aid of AntConc 4.3.1, examines the evaluative construction of China’s national image in the New Straits Times’ news discourse on the South China Sea (SCS) issue. Findings reveal that the discourse in the newspaper’s coverage portrays China as both cooperative and peaceful, yet also assertive and expansionist due to territorial disputes. In the attitude resource subsystem, judgment resources are the most prevalent, significantly outnumbering both affect and appreciation resources. Collectively, the reports contain a mix of positive assessments of China’s economic growth and regional cooperation, alongside negative evaluations of its hardline stance in territorial disputes.

Keywords

Appraisal Theory; National Image; SCS Issue; News Reporting; Attitude Resources

References

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