Changes in the UK leading media's portrayal of China during the Covid-19 pandemic and the special military operation

The aim of the present study is to trace changes in the construction of the image of China in the British media during two crisis periods: the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian military operation. Each period encompasses a panic (escalation) phase and a recovery (stagnation) phase. Using data from the Factiva database, 70,356 articles published in four British media outlets were analyzed: The Times, The Sun, The Guardian and The Daily Mirror. The methodological basis of the study constitute the dependency theory and the agenda setting theory. At the instrumental level, frame analysis, sentiment analysis and keyword analysis were used. Following the initial panic reaction to the COVID pandemic, China’s image has been restored through favorable media coverage. Negative reporting surged initially but waned as the pandemic subsided. China’s neutral stance on the Russian military operation had a limited impact on media reporting. The image experienced a brief setback before rebounding. The short term media attention during the escalation was accompanied by explicitly negative evaluations, whereas the stagnation phase coverage might be said to have rather improved China’s image. It is concluded that although both crisis periods had a certain impact on the construction of the image of China, the British media in the discourse continue to adhere to the tendencies of accusing China of violating human rights, as well as paying special attention and criticizing domestic politics. These results are consistent with the tendencies revealed in other studies before the pandemic.