A study on the image of China in Sri Lankan mainstream newspapers

Abstract

Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Sino-Sri Lankan cooperation has deepened significantly. This study provides a meaningful exploration of China’s national image as perceived in Sri Lanka through its mainstream English newspapers. Grounded in Fairclough’s threedimensional analysis framework, this research examines 100 news reports related to the BRI, comprising 64 positive and 36 negative articles. It aims to address two questions: 1) What national images of China have been constructed in these reports? 2) What underlying ideologies are reflected in reports with different stances? Through an analysis at the textual, discursive practice, and sociocultural practice levels, the findings reveal a dual image of China. On the one hand, China is portrayed as a responsible great power, an economic cooperator bringing development opportunities, a supportive partner, and a leader in regional economic development. On the other hand, it is also depicted as a greedy economic invader, creating a debt trap for Sri Lanka, a self-interested power seeking regional influence, and a trouble-maker. The study concludes that positive images dominate the discourse. This divergence in representation stems from different ideological standpoints: the Sri Lankan government, scholars, and common people generally welcome the economic benefits of the BRI, while the political opposition uses criticism of the BRI as a tool to attack the government for political gain. Furthermore, the influence ofWestern political forces cannot be overlooked. A limitation of this study is its relatively small sample size and focus solely on print newspapers; future research incorporating diverse media sources could yield more comprehensive conclusions.