Failure and counter forces of China’s charm offensive. Individual Visit Scheme in media discourses of Hong Kong

Chan Chi Kit

Abstract

China attempts to enhance its international charm via transborder economic cooperation and cultural exchange. However, “China–Hong Kong conflicts” have been ongoing throughout the past 20 years, during which Hong Kong has been a Special Administrative Region under Chinese Communist rule. The Individual Visit Scheme, which commenced in 2003, is a main source of these conflicts. This study explicates how Hong Kong media discourses frame the Individual Visit Scheme as a matter of “China–Hong Kong conflict” and
counter the charm offensive from China. The scope of analysis covers Hong Kong media discourses from 2003 to 2015 in relation to the Individual Visit Scheme policy and Chinese visitors, as well as interview research findings from 30 journalists who have taken part in such media discourses.

 


Keywords: Charm Offensive, China, China–Hong Kong conflict, Hong Kong Media,
Individual Visit Scheme.


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