A Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis of Reuters' News Coverage of the 2025 Sino-U.S. Trade War

Xu Tongkai

doi:10.30560/ilr.v8n2p30

Xu Tongkai University of Nottingham Malaysia Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30560/ilr.v8n2p30

Keywords: Critical Discourse Analysis, Corpus Linguistics, Sino-U.S. Trade War, Reuters

Abstract

This study conducts a Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis (CBCDA) to analyze Reuters news coverage on the Sino-U.S. Trade War in 2025, using a mixed approach that combines Corpus Linguistics (CL) with Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The study mainly examines how Reuters constructs narratives surrounding the trade war. It focuses on linguistic patterns in the period from February 1 to May 1, 2025, a time marked by intensified conflict. By analyzing keywords, collocates, and concordances, the study uncovers ideology in Reuters’ reporting, revealing asymmetries in the portrayal of the United States and China. The findings suggest that Reuters’ coverage positions the U.S. as the active agent in the conflict, with China portrayed as reactive and defensive. The study also explores the broader implications of these discursive choices in shaping global perceptions of economic conflict, highlighting the role of media in constructing power dynamics and ideologies. This research contributes to the understanding of media neutrality, global power relations, and the discursive construction of economic narratives.

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