Framing Sino-American Relations under Stress: A Reexamination of News Coverage of the 2001 Spy Plane Crisis

Abstract

Sino-American relations represent a pivotal point in the current balance of global power. This article considers the 2001 spy plane crisis as a revealing episode and considers the framing of media coverage of the crisis in both countries. Of particular interest is the correspondence of news coverage to the divergent regime types and cultural orientations of each state. The findings of the content analysis reinforce the presence of such linkages and conclude that, as actors play a vital role in reflecting as well as informing public opinion, prominent news outlets in both countries serve as purveyors of mutual distrust rather than the easing of inherent tensions in the bilateral relationship.