The Analysis of China’s Understanding and Strategies of “Tech Diplomacy” in the Time of Global Uncertainty

From the U.S. technology and trade tensions with China in 2018 to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the expression “tech diplomacy” has gained prominence in Chinese academic and political discussions. A common thread in these discussions is tot frame this term with an ideological tint to criticize Western-dominated hegemonic discourses and geopolitical rhetoric, which are perceived as attempts to inhibit China’s technological advancement (Liu, 2023). Meanwhile, Beijing has adopted more aggressive foreign policy measures in its international communication plan. Its revised strategy aims to enhance its influence over international discourse and assert its role in shaping international rules and technological standards, striving to legitimize and institutionalize these norms over the long term (Xi, 2022). This study will employ a historical-discursive analytical approach (Huang, 2021) to examine the perception of tech diplomacy within Beijing’s political and academic circles and explore how the Chinese government has localized and institutionalized this ostensibly Western rhetoric amid geopolitical tensions. For our methodology, we plan to gather official statements from the Chinese government and Chinese-publishing academic articles since the onset of the 2018 U.S.-China trade and tech conflicts. This collection of sources will aid in analyzing Beijing’s framing strategy and process of tech diplomacy.