Supervised by: Andrew J. Nathan, PhD, Class of 1919 Professor of Political Science 

Project Background and Methodology 

This research seeks to explore how recent United States tariffs on China have impacted Chinese public discourse about the United States, and the subsequent implications for US-China relations. The project will investigate how tariffs issued during the administration of Donald J. Trump (2025) has been portrayed and understood in Chinese media, and how different Chinese communities—urban, rural, overseas, youth, and elderly—have reacted both similarly and distinctively. 

I will conduct a discursive analysis of content relating to tariffs on Chinese social media platforms, including WeChat, Weibo, and Rednote; I will examine their themes, sentiment, and narrative framing both quantitatively and qualitatively. Furthermore, I will compare grassroots tariff discussions with statements released by official state media to track evolving narratives. My analysis will be informed by the political philosophy of American exceptionalism, Chinese nationalism, and Confucian political thought. Ultimately, this six-week study aims to offer a culturally grounded perspective on US-China relations and contribute to strategies for reducing Sino-American tensions.

Objectives 

• Identity and analyze common themes and sentiment in Chinese public discourse concerning US-imposed tariffs 
• Investigate differences in narrative framing across diverse Chinese populations (e.g. urban, rural, overseas, youth, elderly) 
• Derive constructivist insights into the cultural and political impacts of Trump’s US tariffs policies