Constructing China’s Major Power Image in United Nations Discourse: A Corpus-Based Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

Drawing upon Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and integrating corpus-based approaches, this study constructs a corpus consisting of English diplomatic speeches delivered by representatives of China to the United Nations between 2012 and 2025. Through frequency analysis, keyword analysis, and lexical bundle analysis, the study investigates the linguistic features, discursive strategies, and socio-political motivations underlying the construction of China’s major-power image within the UN discourse framework. The findings indicate that at the textual level, high-frequency lexical choices and recurring discourse patterns reveal three dominant themes: global development and cooperation, international peace and security, and multilateral governance. At the discourse practice level, China legitimizes its international identity through institutional authority, intertextual references to UN norms, and audience-oriented communication strategies. At the level of social practice, the construction of China’s major-power image is closely associated with China’s foreign policy principles, development strategies, and cultural values. This study contributes to research on national image construction by extending CDA-based analyses beyond external representations and demonstrating how an emerging power constructs its international identity through institutional diplomatic discourse. It also highlights the value of combining corpus linguistics with critical discourse analysis in examining the relationship between language, power, and global governance.