A Diachronic Transitivity Analysis on China Daily’s Coverage of the 2018 and 2025 China-US Trade Disputes

This study conducts a diachronic transitivity analysis of China Daily’s coverage of the 2018 and 2025 China-US trade disputes, focusing on material processes and Actor–Goal constructions. Findings show that material processes dominate, emphasizing tangible actions such as tariffs and negotiations. In 2018, China is portrayed as cooperative and responsible, while the US appears coercive; by 2025, the US emerges as the primary instigator, and China adopts a defen-sive–counteractive–constructive stance. Overall, the newspaper strategically frames national agency and accountability, reinforcing China’s legitimacy and strategic image in international economic governance.