China's Coronavirus-Oriented Diplomacy in Nigeria

Abstract

Over the last decade, new media penetrations have multiplied the determinants of perceptions held in diplomatic sphere. The deployment of digital diplomacy by different countries to manage public perceptions has now opened a new vista in diplomatic and public relations discourse. China's application of digital diplomacy became even more pronounced as a result of the negative narratives--mostly derived from preconceived stereotypes--that heralded the outbreak of coronavirus. Consequently, the country's online communications in Nigeria were designed to launder its image for a more beneficial bilateral relationship with the latter. This chapter, through qualitative content analysis, evaluates the extent China's online coronavirus-oriented communications in Nigeria were deployed in countering negative stereotypes and narratives at the initial-to-peak stage of the virus. Findings show that, despite trickles of counterproductive content, post-coronavirus China's image was significantly laundered through the deployment of various Nigeria-targeted digital communication strategies.