Critical Discourse Analysis Based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics: Taking The Economist’s First Commentation on the End of China’s Zero-COVID Policy as an Example

Abstract

Based on Halliday’s systemic functional grammar, especially the ideational function, this research aims at disclosing the hidden ideologies and values of the seemingly objective news reports on China’s COVID-19 policies in The Economist. Transitivity, voice, and nominalization are the major analytical subjects. After China lifted the zero-COVID policy, western media began criticizing China’s lack of data sharing, with some misinformation and misleading reports. The denouncement of inertness and reluctance to fight against the pandemic disclaim the Chinese government’s efforts and depreciate China’s image. China is portrayed as the villain and destroyer of people’s health worldwide. Meanwhile, they also hold a hesitant attitude toward China’s diplomacy. The re-engaging with foreign countries and travel restrictions have been described as imprudent and rushed actions. They also consider China as the fuse of contradiction in the United Nations. What is overt is their view of breaking up China.