Abstract:

Taking a mixed perspective of rhetoric theory and critical discourse analysis, and based on news editorials on the Joint Statement of the United States and China Regarding Trade Consultations published by Chinese and the US media, this research, by using quantitative study, word analysis, and text close reading method, illuminated the realization of rhetoric strategies and language characteristics in a conflict rhetoric situation about Sino-China trade friction and demonstrated the purpose of rhetorical discourse games around two countries' media's attitudes towards the political affair by taking a three-dimension analysis framework of language identification, interpretation and environmental explanation. As is shown in the results, Chinese media tended to use the strategies of “reason” and “logic” to persuade the audience, striving for easing the intensity of confrontation between China and the US, which reflected China's essential appeal of pursuing for conciliation, stabilization and mutual benefit. While the US media were good at taking the initiative by using the strategies of “emotion” and “power”. By putting an emphasize on exaggerating the conflict intensity between two countries, the US media manifested the essence of persisting in competition, change and confrontation. The research gave some enlightenments on how to respond to public opinions of foreign media and how to improve the rhetoric competence of Chinese media in the construction and development of game relationship between medias.

Key words: Rhetoric, critical discourse analysis, news editorial, Sino-US Trade Friction