Framing the Xi–Biden meeting in news coverage: A cross-national comparative analysis

The highly anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden occurred at a critical moment amidst the ongoing global competition between these major powers. Countries in Southeast Asia, situated between the Sino-US rivalry, often face the pressure to align with one side. As global events unfold, audiences rely on news media for information. Guided by framing theory, this study examines cross-country variation in the coverage of the Sino-US meeting by news outlets in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. A content analysis of 263 news articles revealed that ASEAN news outlets primarily depend on agency input to shape their news agendas. The theme of “advancing national interests” was predominant in ASEAN news coverage, with Malaysian media notably emphasizing this theme. The study also discusses the implications of these findings and offers recommendations for future research.