Ambassador-host country relations: Comparing the digital diplomacy strategies of the Chinese and US ambassadors on X

Heightened geopolitical tensions give rise to digital diplomacy scholarship that frames social media as a digital battleground where rival states amply diplomatic messaging. Yet, interactions between ambassadors and host countries amidst geopolitical tensions remain underexplored. This study used mixed methods to analyze the 2022–2023 X posts of China’s ambassadors in Washington, DC, and their US counterpart in Beijing. Computational analysis reveals different sentiment curves and diplomatic priorities on ambassadorial accounts. Qualitative interpretation reveals that ambassadors were positive on topics of bilateral cooperation, interaction and historical connections. Whereas Chinese ambassadors were critical of the US on Taiwan and human rights, the US ambassador was negative on China’s human rights, geopolitical actions and censorship.