신냉전 시대 개막 미·중 체제 전쟁: 인권·신장 관련 환구시보 사설 비판적 담화분석

The Beginning of the New Cold War between US and China: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Global Times Editorials on Human Rights Abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang

This research using critical discourse analysis examines the response strategies of the Global Times editorials, which clearly reveals the Chinese government’s ideological strategies and tactics against US which uses Uyghur human rights issues as glue to alliance solidarity since Biden took power. The related editorials have constructed a counter-hegemonic ideology against US. First, China urges Russia and developing countries to establish an anti-US coalitions because US violates basic human rights such as safety and life protection of its people caused by the COVID-19, gun violence, racism and natural disasters. Second, western political human rights cannot be applied to developing countries such as China since the basic concept of human rights in developing countries such as China is ‘fighting poverty.’ Such a confrontation between US and China over rights abuses has quickly turned around before and after the sanctions by US, EU, Britain, and Canada on Mar. 22, 2021 over the abuse of Uyghurs, resulting in boycotting Xinjiang cotton by multinational enterprises. The editorials before the sanctions phase expanded the current situation from “human rights debate” and “human rights game” to “media war.” However, the editorials after the sanctions quickly turned the previous “human rights war” into “the hegemonic war.” Furthermore, they instigated the entire people to join the fight in “People’s War” against US.