A rhetorical study of the trade war discourse between the US and China

This study examines the discursive construction of the U.S.-China trade war, exploring how rhetorical strategies manifest ideological stances and power dynamics. Moving beyond economic interpretations, the research utilizes a tripartite framework grounded in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to dissect ten primary government documents from 2023 to 2024. The analysis reveals the strategic deployment of classical rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) as mechanisms to justify national policy and shape ‘regimes of truth’. Findings demonstrate that these rhetorical choices are deeply ideological: the U.S. employs a neoliberal defense of international norms to project an image of a ‘fair’ arbiter, while China utilizes a sovereignty-centered discourse of resistance to delegitimize perceived foreign interference. Furthermore, the study examines power dynamics encoded through assertive syntax and modal verbs. By illustrating how ideology and power are operationalized through specific linguistic markers, this research highlights the critical function of discourse in contemporary geopolitical conflicts. It offers a replicable model for understanding how global powers leverage strategic communication to shape international relations and challenge hegemonic stability.