China Threat Image In American News Media: Perception Or Misperception?

America's image of China in 20th century has swayed between two extremities: rosy and evil. There are times that one image overwhelmed the other, but neither one ever replaced the other. Instead, both of the two images were well preserved in the minds of American people and tend to be triggered when there are clues to suggest so. In 2005, the issues of Sino-U.S. trade friction, revaluing Chinese Yuan and M&A of Chinese companies in overseas countries and etc. brought a stronger voice of China threat in the United States. However, the lessons we learned from history is that country leaders end up wrong foreign policies simply because they misperceived the other counties.International relations studies find that image of China threat has theoretical base and is highly interactive with nation interest and ideas that construct the nation interest and identity. However, orientalism holds that image of China serves as"the other"for western countries. This paper reviews stock from these two areas of study in chapter one.The following analysis is based on the theory of framing. In an attempt to study how American media build the frame of China threat image and what has contributed to the making of this frame, this study adopted both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the Wall Street Journal's coverage on Cnooc's bid for Unocal.Research findings are interpreted within the framework. Analysis shows that the Wall Street Journal uses attributive words to define or emphasize certain attributes of participants and that builds the news frame from a micro approach. News source study reveals that news frame is the result of competition and interaction of different interest groups. However, frame is primarily set due to people's stereotypical knowledge about China. For the issue covered, news frame help to define the issue, make judgment, do moral evaluation and suggest solutions.The paper also attempts to bring stereotype, which is embedded in news frame, to awareness. By doing so, we have a better understanding of where and how these images come from and in what way they affect our life. Then we learn to be cautious when making and exchanging these images. Positive communication, with sincere and good will between nations and peoples, helps to breed positive collective memories, which will in turn positively affect our stereotype over other nations.This study hopefully helps to understand U.S.'s policy towards China and how is China beheld by international communities as this country rises. Journalists and China's foreign policy makers may find it for references.