An Analysis of Chinese Leaders’ Images Towards the United States During the Covid-19 Pandemic
An Analysis of Chinese Leaders’ Images Towards the United States During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Author(s): Leo S. F. Lin
Subject(s): Economic policy, International relations/trade
Published by: Scientia Moralitas Research Institute
Keywords: Chinese leaders’ images; strategic culture
Summary/Abstract: This paper provides a preliminary analysis on how Chinese leaders perceive the United States during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The author borrows the concepts of strategic culture provided by Andrew Scobell (2014). Scobell asserts that “two faces of strategic culture” affect Chinese leader images and perceptions. The first face of strategic culture is concerned with a country’s self-image – the perceptions and realities of its dominant strategic traditions and how these interact and produce outcomes. The second face of strategic culture involves the image of other countries. Scobell argues that Chinese leaders tend to view their strategic tradition as the “Great Wall” strand of strategic culture, and therefore it shows “active defense” in nature. Chinese leaders tend to describe other states as more focused on aggressive and disreputable intentions in relation to China. This author uses pattern-matching research methodology and compares the theoretical pattern and the observed pattern. The data were collected from Chinese leaders’ speeches and government websites. The author codes and analyzes the data based on the conception model. Based on the empirical findings, this author confirms two strategic culture faces during the pandemic that affect Chinese leaders’ images. The result shows that Chinese leaders tend to have negative images towards the United States.

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