Journal of Public Diplomacy

The Korean Association for Public Diplomacy (한국공공외교학회)
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Public Diplomacy, Propaganda, or What? China's Communication Practices in the South China Sea Dispute on Twitter

  • Nip, Joyce Y.M. (University of Sydney) ;
  • Sun, Chao (Sydney Informatics Hub, University of Sydney)
  • Received : 2021.08.01
  • Accepted : 2022.02.05
  • Published : 2022.06.30
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Abstract

Multiple modes of communication on social media can contribute to public diplomacy in informing, conversing, and networking with members of foreign publics. However, manipulative behaviours on social media, prevalent especially in high tension contexts, create disruptions to authentic communication in what could be grey/black propaganda or information warfare. This study reviews existing literature about models of public diplomacy to guide an empirical study of China's communication in the #SouthChinaSea conversation on Twitter. It uses computational methods to identify, record, and analyze one-way, two-way, and network communication of China's actors. It employs manual qualitative research to determine the nature of China's actors. On that basis, it assesses China's Twitter communication in the issue against various models of public diplomacy.

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