Original
Diplomatic Bifurcation: China’s Dual Narratives on the Russia–Ukraine War in Global Times
Abstract
This article analyses China’s Global Times, focusing on bifurcated strategic narratives about the Russia–Ukraine war for domestic and international audiences. Using 675 articles (301 Chinese, 374 English) from 2022–2024, it contrasts the editions to reveal narrative polyvalence serving distinct geopolitical aims. The Chinese edition frames the war as a contest between sovereign equals under US-led Western hegemony, reinforcing anti-imperialist discourse and China’s pursuit of discourse power. The English edition depicts China as a neutral mediator, emphasizing multilateral diplomacy and critiquing US destabilization. This ‘diplomatic bifurcation’ preserves domestic ideological coherence while projecting a constructive international image and adapting narratives to audience sensitivities and global dynamics, challenging assumptions of uniform nationalism in Chinese media.
中文
外交二元化：中国在《环球时报》上关于俄乌战争的双重叙事
摘要
本文分析中国的《环球时报》，聚焦其针对国内与国际受众围绕俄乌战争所形成的二元战略叙事。通过考察2022—2024年间675篇文章（301篇中文、374篇英文），本文对比不同语种版本，揭示服务于不同地缘政治目标的叙事多义性。中文版将战争框定为美国主导的西方霸权下主权平等国家之间的较量，强化反帝国主义话语及中国对国际话语权的追求。英文版则将中国描绘为中立调解者，强调多边外交并批评美国的破坏稳定行为。这种“外交二元化”在维持国内意识形态一致性的同时，投射建设性国际形象，并使叙事适应受众敏感性与全球动态，从而挑战中国媒体具有铁板一块民族主义的假设。
关键词
俄乌战争、《环球时报》、战略叙事、外交二元化、国际话语权、中国媒体、国内与国际受众