Comparing the Media Activity of Chinese and US Foreign Policy Think Tanks

In the wake of China's rapid rise as a regional and global power, the country’s foreign policy think tanks have attracted increasing attention, mostly due to their influence on Beijing's international agenda. More recently, they have also become very involved in media activities, providing commentary on current affairs - thus increasingly assuming a role also played by their counterparts in the United States. Comparing these two foreign policy think-tank communities and their output, this paper highlights and analyzes differences in how they use media platforms for public information and policy advocacy. By conducting a quantitative content analysis of a large number of recent commentaries from both sides, the paper identifies topics covered with particular intensity and analyzes the sentiments with which topics of mutual interest are portrayed. Finally, the paper offers explanations for systematic differences in coverage and discusses implications for public opinion on international affairs in both countries.