The Influence of American Mainstream Media Reports on
China’s Credible Political Image in ASEAN—Take US Media Reports on the Belt and Road Initiative as an Example
YU Qingchu GUO Yingchun
Author information+
Yu Qingchu is a professor of School of Journalism and Communication, Xiamen University. Email: 2323696482@qq.com.
Guo Yingchun (corresponding author) is a PhD candidate of School of Journalism and Communication, Xiamen University. Email: 707996274@qq.com.
Credibility serves as the fundamental cornerstone for crafting a “credible, endearing, and respectable” image of China. This paper examines the role of emotional bias in U.S. mainstream media coverage of the “Belt and Road” initiative within ASEAN countries and its impact on the perception of China’s credible political image. The findings reveal a correlation: the more positive the emotional tone in U.S. mainstream media reports, the more favorable the perception of China's political image among ASEAN nations, and this relationship holds true in reverse as well. By incorporating the moderating effects of political trust in and alliance with the United States, the research indicates that ASEAN countries with stronger ties to the U.S. are less susceptible to media influence, whereas those with weaker ties are more likely to be swayed by media narratives. This suggests that once a stable trust relationship is established between nations, it remains robust against media influences. Conversely, for nations lacking such trust, media can exert a significant influence.
Drawing on the theory of “wedge strategy,” this paper proposes strategies for preemptive alliance
blocking and alliance differentiation in international communication. These strategies aim to enhance ASEAN’s recognition and acceptance of China’s credible political image.
YU Qingchu GUO Yingchun.
The Influence of American Mainstream Media Reports on
China’s Credible Political Image in ASEAN—Take US Media Reports on the Belt and Road Initiative as an Example. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2024, 46(8): 72-90