Beyond binary categorization: discursive construction of multiple identities and common ground in Hong Kong media’s coverage of international conflict

This study integrates social-psychological perspectives on intergroup relations with critical discourse analysis (CDA) to conduct a corpus-assisted discourse study of media representations of international conflict. Focusing on the South China Morning Post’s (SCMP) reporting of the Sino-U.S. trade dispute, the analysis employs keyword, collocation, and concordance techniques to examine how media discourse constructs and negotiates multiple identities amid shifting global dynamics. Findings reveal that SCMP frames the conflict within a broader international context, representing diverse actors with complex identities and group affiliations. While the inherent nature of conflict reinforces in-group/out-group categorization, the newspaper employs discursive recategorization strategies to construct a superordinate global identity that underscores Sino-U.S. interconnectedness and offers nuanced portrayals of China beyond simplistic binary frames. These findings illuminate how media discourse can foster intergroup cooperation while acknowledging the complex interplay of competing national interests. The study provides practical implications for journalistic practices and international communication strategies, particularly in an era of deepening economic interdependence and geopolitical complexity.