The subject of this research is the formation and transformation of China’s national image in both English-language and Chinese media, based on the coverage of Sino-Russian economic and foreign policy relations in outlets such as People’s Daily, The New York Times, and Financial Times. The object of analysis includes discursive strategies, linguistic and stylistic features, and ideological emphases used in media texts reflecting the dynamics of bilateral cooperation, geopolitical alliances, and global challenges. The author closely examines how China's media representation aligns with the concept of "soft power," mechanisms of legitimizing foreign policy, and the strategic goals of public diplomacy. Special attention is given to the contrast between the positive, proactive narrative of People’s Daily, which portrays China as a reliable partner and architect of a just world order, and the critical, constrained tone of English-language media, which tend to emphasize risks, ambiguity, and strategic contradictions. The methodology combines elements of media linguistics, critical discourse analysis, and a cognitive-pragmatic approach to political and informational texts. The scientific novelty lies in the comparative analysis of China's image construction within oppositional media ecosystems Chinese and Western amid global geopolitical turbulence. For the first time, the author undertakes a comparative examination of media discourse through specific case studies related to the Sino-Russian strategic partnership, using both domestic and international sources. The study finds that People’s Daily employs rhetoric of positive integration and the “shared future for mankind,” while The New York Times and Financial Times apply distancing strategies and implicit critique, highlighting the limitations and risks of the partnership. The conclusions contribute to the fields of media linguistics, political image studies, and transnational communication, demonstrating the pivotal role of linguistic mechanisms in shaping public opinion and a nation’s international reputation.
Mingyang Li (Fri,) studied this question.