Changes And Constructions Of PLA’s International Image In Western Vision

Army’s international image is an important part of its nation.Generally speaking,international image of army means a stable view on a country’s army by international community.Study on evolution and causes of the international image of People’s Liberation Army in Western Perspective will help us construct China’s image flexibly,and prove the construction and dissemination of Chinese army’s image under new circumstances.This paper argues that army’s international image is similar to that of a nation,which is mainly in three forms:the diplomatic image,public image and media image.According to CIS theory,the army’s image is consisted of three basic corresponding elements:a visual image,behavior image and mind image.Good image of the army is an important foundation for military construction of soft power,and plays an important role to strengthen military soft.Constructivist theory holds that the international image of the armed forces is not often the objective reflection of an army,but it is the product of the interaction exchanges between nations,which is often intentionally or unintentionally distorted and misread.The main factors restricting the shaping and dissemination of international image of our armed forces include the western-dominated international political order,strong west and weak China pattern of international public opinion,and cultural hegemony.After founding of new China,with the changes in the international situation and relations with the West,views of western countries to Chinese army has gone through four historical periods,they are "fear","sympathy","demonization" and "confrontation",and the Chinese army’s international image show different characteristics accordingly.From the establishment of PRC to the early 1970s,Chinese army was regarded as"red blood","political fanaticism" and "militants" in western vision.From the late 1970s to 1989,the image of Chinese army was viewed as backward equipped and trained,always learning from the West while maintaining its own advantages.From early 1990s to early 2000s,Chinese army was again being "demonized",and was seen as a threat to regional security,and was militarily backward.Since the beginning of the 21st century,the image of Chinese army has been regarded as army of a big power,which is mixed and uncertain.Important reasons attributes to the formation of the image above include the deep-rooted ideological understanding of symbols of Chinese army.According to the theory of media framework and agenda setting,the formation of specific international image of Chinese army in Western vision image is tend to copy its preimage,and the evaluation of image is closely related to the usage mode of military power.In the construction process of international discourse that is Western-dominated,the negative image on China side in western view has been deep-rooted with enhancement for a long period of time,and the western society and public opinion has formed a stereotype of the Chinese army due to differences in political system,ideology,values and cultural background.Chinese army identified itself differently from that of western with repeated "positioning".However,international image of Chinese army has been set in a passive situation for a long period of time due to lack of deep mutual trust and exchange.This article argues that objective orientation is the cornerstone of the construction of Chinese army.To establish a good international image of Chinese army,the communication objective should to portray a mighty,civilized,peaceful Chinese army.Under the new circumstances,the construction of Chinese army’s international image is a systematical project covering multiple areas,and a matter of systematical planning with short,medium and long-term strategic objectives scientifically.To achieve this,we need to establish concept adapted to the development of modem communication and aim at the audience of the Western countries with scientific planning and reasonable promotion.Institution design,system building,agenda-setting and mode selection,etc.,should be highlighted to improve the objective targeting and strategy applicability to integrate effectively into the international discourse,and promote a fundamental turn for the better international image of the Chinese army with gradual elimination of the negative impact.