ABSTRACT
The word “provocation” is often used to frame troublemakers in international news and justify reaction. Provocation narratives inevitably introduce political bias. This chapter uses semantic network analysis to compare the provocation narratives in American and Chinese newspapers. First, we identify the core countries mentioned in the context of provocation. Then we look at the prevailing themes and topics in the news of the two countries and languages. Our findings show that provocation narratives are typically used to highlight the major international conflicts around the world, and particularly the conflict between North Korea, South Korea, and the US. While American news emphasizes the role of North Korea as the provocateur, Chinese news emphasizes the role and responsibility of the US. We conclude that provocation narratives around the world are influenced and correspond with the Western geopolitical views, yet they are constantly shaped by global and regional interests.
