On The Construction Of National Identity By The US News Media About Sino-U.S.Trade Dispute

News reports play a critical role in constructing and spreading the of China.This paper selects news reports from The Washington Post as data and takes Critical Discourse Analysis as the analytic scope to explore the identities and of China and America constructed in U.S.newspapers and then discuss the possible reasons for the construction.The research findings show that The Washington Post constructs China as a dishonest,powerless,crafty country.America which is the victim of the trade dispute always takes legal measures to protect its interests and is winning the supports of other countries.Besides,America is strong and its behavior is justified and President Trump administration which is confident in America's actions anchors its hope on China's concession to end the trade dispute.Possible reasons for the construction of national identity by the U.S.newspapers are mainly discussed from the economical and political aspects.First,economically,in order to reverse the trade deficit with China,America initiates the trade dispute.To beautify and justify its intention,America constantly emphasizes China's “illegal trade practice” and constructs China's negative identities but depicts America as the victim of the trade dispute to confuse readers and conceal its unilateral-trade practice.Second,politically,out of “America first” strategy and the aim to contain China's rapid development and faced with mid-term presidential elections,President Trump administration will naturally play the trade card by putting pressure on key trading partners to win over voters in a bid to shore up the election.A powerless China and a strong,capable America constructed by American mainstream newspaper in the lengthy trade dispute will largely pacify Americans and voters.