ATLANTA —The National Communication Association held its 110th Annual Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana November 21-24. Georgia State University (GSU) Ph.D Student and Transcultural Conflict and Violence Initiative (TCV) Presidential Fellow, Alex Keyu Chen presented as part of Association for Chinese Communication Studies Competitive Paper Session. Chen’s paper is titled ‘Unpacking China’s Diplomatic Sentiment towards the United States: Sentiment Analysis and Topic Modelling in China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Conferences (2002-2022).’
Abstract
While international relations scholars have observed China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, communication researchers have primarily focused on dissecting China’s rhetorical strategies in digital diplomacy. However, the relationship between China’s foreign policy stance and its narrative sentiment in the traditional diplomatic context remains less explored. This study addresses this gap by investigating topical factors that influence the positivity or negativity in China’s foreign policy sentiment. Using computer-assisted sentiment analysis and topic modeling, this study examines how and to what extent China’s narrative sentiment has adapted to topical changes over the past 20 years. By analyzing China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs press conferences, the study seeks to 1) compare shifts in China’s sentiment toward the United States with its sentiment toward other countries; 2) link these sentiment changes to the roles of individual spokespersons during the Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping administrations; and 3) determine which topics are more likely to escalate or de-escalate China’s assertive foreign policy narrative. Ultimately, this study contributes to the literature on China’s diplomacy and China-U.S. relations shedding light on the interplay between its foreign policy topical changes and narrative sentiment.
Competitive papers for the Association for Chinese Communication Studies, was held during Saturday, November 23rd sessions. Chen’s research was 1 of 4 papers presented.