Media agenda-setting between mainland China and Taiwan province: A case study of the Russo-Ukrainian war

Abstract

The Russo-Ukraine war has drawn attention worldwide. Previous studies have revealed how the conflict affected global patterns and international interactions. This article refined the scope of the study by focusing on the agenda-setting and attribute agenda-setting that media in mainland China and Taiwan Province of China set when reporting the Russo-Ukraine war. A total of 471 of the People’s Daily and the Liberty Times’ news were examined by the LDA model to categorize their agendas and key words of the attribute agenda-setting. The study found that both parties set four agendas: diagnose causes, economic consequences, international relationship and remedy. Mainland China additionally added nationalization agenda. The huge differences in attribute agenda-setting between the two sides were a reflection of the divergent political objectives of the two parties in mainland China and Taiwan province. The results suggested that the Russo-Ukrainian war was revealed by a multiparty convergence of media and government agendas, and neither medium paid heed to the public agenda in their reportage.