A study of the genesis and transformation of the narratives about the conflict between China and Western countries

The subject of this article is the narratives of the conflict between the Chinese and British empires in the XVIII-XIX centuries and about the Korean War of 1950-1953. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze stable narratives and cliches about these conflicts, to show their genesis, transformation and target groups. As the analyzed material, the diplomatic correspondence given in A. Toynbee's "A study of History" and in G. Kissinger's "On China" are compared; additional updated sources are considered. The identified inconsistencies in key issues are analyzed by comparing, as well as the situational and historical context of the appearance of these texts and their interpretations. The Cold War narrative about the Chinese delegation to Moscow in 1949-1950 has also been disassembled and deconstructed. The methodological basis of linguistic research of texts consists of content analysis, intent analysis, discourse analysis, narrative analysis. The results revealed distortions of the analyzed narratives about the conflict between the Chinese and British empires in the XVIII-XIX centuries; about the negotiations between the PRC and the USSR in 1949-1950. The primary sources that deserve attention and further research are indicated. Parallels have been drawn between the events under study, which were not previously considered in this way; an analysis has been carried out in the light of the identification of these correlations. The ambiguity and tendentiousness of many theses of Kissinger's work are substantiated. The reasons and the probable target group for which these narratives were created are analyzed. In conclusion, China's declared vision of the development of international relations in connection with the historical context is analyzed. A thesis is put forward on the applicability of the data obtained to predict the current conflict between China and the United States over Taiwan.

China, Community of Common Destiny, Opium wars, Taiwan, Technological unipolarity, Korean War, Macartney Embassy, propaganda, East India Company, mercantilism