The West Views China's Rise:A Case-study of the British Press

An analysis ofthe four most influential broadsheet newspapers in Britain is offered in an attempt to assess developing Western perceptions of China's rise, something which is increasingly valued by Chinese policymakers. Case studies of Sino-Japanese relations, Sino-African relations, and the Tibet issue are offered. The conclusions illustrate that the British public is convinced of China's growing importance in the world, but fears the consequences ofits growing power. It is seen as a potentially unstable state, the motivations and intentions ofwhich are not fully understood. The thesis argues that negative perceptions stem partly from inaccurate or biased reporting ofChinese affairs, but more importantly from cultural differences stemming from the ways in which power politics is conceived ofin'post_modern' societies such as Britain. It is argued that changes in the ways in which China presents itself and also in the conduct ofits foreign policy will bc required to improve Westem perceptions of China, but that such changes may not be acceptable to Chinese leaders whose cmphasis on sovereignty and non-interference may lead them to judge such changes undesirable. This presents a difficult challenge for Chinese policymakers.