Coverage of the One Belt, One Road Initiative by Russia Today TV channel as a way of understanding Russian-Chinese relations

Abstract

The authors conduct a comparative analysis of how Russia Today (RT) report on China's One Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR). Focused on the question of how this state-owned media reflect the bilateral relations between Russia and China, the study reveals that RT serve as mirrors of their governments' attitudes towards China's geopolitical strategy. While only English language coverage by RT is considered, this focus offers a unique insight into Russia's portrayal of the OBOR. The work fills a significant gap in understanding this dynamic and offers new insights through a blended methodological approach. Utilizing quantitative content analysis and qualitative thematic analysis, this pioneering research evaluates the coverage of OBOR by RT (2013-2022), uncovering a previously unexplored interplay between state-owned media narratives and governmental geopolitical relations. It provides a novel perspective on understanding the complex relations between China and Russia through the lens of media reporting. It underscores the role of state-owned media as a tool to shape perceptions and inform the narrative surrounding global initiatives such as OBOR. The study's findings offer insights into the broader discourse around OBOR and its global implications, contributing to the scholarship on international relations, media studies, and Chinese foreign policy.