Guerra Fria 2.0: o novo perigo amarelo no discurso jornalístico sobre o sujeito chinês

Abstract

In this research, we discuss the journalistic discourse on Chinese individuals in the post-Covid-19 pandemic period, focusing on the meanings produced by the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo (FSP). This study is particularly relevant in a context of increased discourse of distrust and hostility during times of crisis, as the construction of hostile narratives towards migrants can result in the marginalization and exclusion of communities. The choice to explore this theme is justified by the need to assess whether these representations contribute to the formation of biases associated with the origin of migrants, through identifying possible patterns in the journalistic discourse about China. Based on the assumption that Chinese individuals may be perceived in Brazil as undesirable migrants and an emerging threat, the research is guided by the following question: how is the Chinese subject presented in journalism in the post-Covid-19 pandemic period? To address this question, we outline three specific objectives: a) to identify the discursive regularities that sustain the discourse on undesirable migrants; b) to understand how the representation of the Chinese subject in journalistic discourse may contribute to the formation of social and political perceptions about Chinese individuals; c) to problematize the implications of lexical choices in how Chinese individuals are portrayed, taking into account the role of the media in shaping the collective imaginary about migration. To explore this representation, we compiled a corpus of news articles from Folha de S.Paulo, covering the period from January to December 2023, based on the theoretical-methodological assumptions of Discourse Analysis (DA). The results indicate the presence of lexical regularities, with terms such as “espionage,” “censorship,” and “regime” frequently used in the news. Additionally, we observed generalizations that associate the actions of the Chinese government with the Chinese population as a whole, along with meanings associated with fear, such as “fear” and “discomfort.” This analysis opens up space to discuss preconceived notions in journalistic discourse and how these discourses may influence public opinion about migration in Brazil.