Research Article

Role Construction and Discourse Competition from the Perspective of the Global South: A Discourse Analysis of CGTN's Coverage of the United Nations Climate Conference

Xiyuan ChenFujian Normal University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The collective composed of a large number of developing countries and emerging market countries - the "Global South" - has attracted much attention in recent years and has gradually become an important force in international politics. In the face of a series of meteorological disasters caused by global climate warming, climate governance and the allocation of responsibilities have become important topics in the international public opinion arena. This article takes the news reports on the United Nations Climate Conference (COP) published on the CGTN official website as a sample, and analyzes the role construction and discourse competition of China, as a member of the Southern countries, in the international climate issues. The research suggests that in the international public opinion arena dominated by Western countries, countries from the "Global South" represented by China are attempting to challenge the dominance of Western countries in climate narrative strategies, striving for a voice and enhancing their global influence.

Keywords: Global South; Global climate governance; COP; CGTN
Published: February 2, 2026
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2026.HT31627
Volume: CHR Vol.102
pp. 128-134
Download PDF

References

  1. Tong, T., Li, H.Q. and Li, Z.F. (2025) The Main Structure of Global Climate Communication and the Changes in the Agenda: Taking the "United Nations Climate Change Conference" as a Reference. International Communication, 1, 89-98.
  2. Liu, Q. (2024) China's Environmental Image and Media Construction in Global Climate Governance. Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai.
  3. Zang, G.R. (1998) News Reporting and Real Construction: Perspectives from the News Frame Theory. Journal of Communication Studies, 4, 1-15.
  4. Shi, A.B. and Tang, J.W. (2025) The "Southern Turn" in Global Climate Communication from the Perspective of Strategic Narratives. Journal of Journalism and Communication Studies, 78, 13-23.
  5. Yu, Y.Q. (2024) The Construction of Power in Discourse Systems and International Communication: A Case Study of the Narrative Logic of Chinese-Style Modernization. Ideological and Theoretical Frontiers, 3, 10-18.
  6. Huang, J.Y. (2023) A Study on the Reporting Strategies of CGTN on China's Participation in Global Climate Governance from the Perspective of Agenda Setting. East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai.
  7. Shen, Z.F. (2023) Research Map on the Construction of Chinese Discourse and Narrative System in the Context of Chinese-Style Modernization: Based on the Investigation of China's International Communication Series Special Studies in 2023. Foreign Communication, 12, 17-21.
  8. Tong, T. and Zhang, R. (2025) The Climate Communication Landscape in the Context of Global Climate Governance: An Examination of News References to the "United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change". Education and Media Studies, 1, 101-107.
  9. Zhong, X. and Lin, Q.Y. (2024) Analysis of the "Global South" Discourse Game from the Perspective of Strategic Narratives. International Communication, 10, 13-17.
  10. Wei, C.X. and Wang, Y.J. (2025) Research on the Innovative Paths of Cross-Cultural Communication in Mainstream Media. China Newspaper Industry, 17, 48-50.
  11. Hu, Z.R. (2025) Subjective Practice and the Construction of China's Independent Knowledge System for International Communication. Journal of Journalism and Communication Studies, 32, 5-18.
  12. Fahmy, N. and Elhamy, H. (2025) Beyond Objectivity: Interventionist Journalism and Professional Role Performance in Global South Media Landscape. Frontiers in Communication, 10, 1660219.