The Concept of “China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future” During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Chinese News Reports

Abstract

This research studied the texts, discursive and social-cultural practices to understand the relationship between China and ASEAN nations by applying Fairclough’s three-dimensional model as a framework. Qualitative research was done to analyze Chinese newspaper discourse about the concept of “China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future” during the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Data was gathered from 15 February 2020 to 30 November 2020, comprising 20 news reports, People’s Daily and Guangming Daily, Chinese newspapers. Results had three following aspects: (1) In linguistics practice, news discourse text features were investigated by classification and modality; (2) In discursive practice, different mass media production process for several samples were explored in terms of news source and reporting mode; and (3) In social-cultural practice, cultural, political, societal and economic factors were influential. These findings reflected an inseparable sense of shared common destiny between China and ASEAN nations, marked by mutual assistance and support. Despite challenges confronted by China and the ASEAN nations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an image persisted of strengthened societal, political, economic, and cultural cooperation.