The Discourse Construction Mechanism of China's Ecological and Environmental Issues in Western Mainstream Media: An Analysis Based on The New York Times Corpus

The issue of ecological and environmental protection is shaped by diverse stances of nations and ethnic groups within the sphere of international geopolitics, forming a crucial discourse field in the context of globalization. This paper examines the media discourse of The New York Times, exploring its narrative construction and dissemination mechanisms concerning China’s environmental issues. Based on empirical discourse analysis of a corpus, this study argues that The New York Times establishes a relatively comprehensive discourse framework in terms of textual dimension, thematic dimension, and discourse mechanism. Through the production of discourse elements, ideological construction, topic linkage and diffusion, as well as the accumulation of media influence, The New York Times employs a symbolic political resource framework that discursively positions China as an "alternative other". In the international dissemination of ecological topics, China should continue to refine its reporting mechanisms on environmental issues, strengthen control over international discourse power, and build an eco-civilization discourse system with Chinese characteristics. Guided by Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization, China should enhance its global communicative power of its solutions for climate governance, thereby presenting China as an active and responsible participant in international ecological governance.