ABSTRACT
Benjamin Ho's chapter discusses how China is presenting its image to the outside world. Using the framework of exceptionalism, the chapter explains how China's international narrative of it being a benign power that is peace-loving and non-hegemonic forms part of its claim to be “different” from other historical and contemporary powers where the development of an Empire has brought violence, suppression and exploitation. By focussing on key speeches made by President Xi Jinping in his first two years in office, the research presents three themes that the Xi administration has sought to communicate to the world. These are: first, the promotion of the Chinese Dream and the image of China as a flourishing civilisation; second, an image of a progressive China willing to undertake reforms; and third, China as a moral example for worthy of global emulation. Ultimately though, China still lacks the communications clout to challenge predominant Western narratives that continue to perceive China's rise as a threat to their hegemonic status quo.
