Comparative analysis of the image of a Chinese migrant in the Chinese mainland media and the media of Chinese emigration

Chzhao QINGSONG PhD in Politics Postgraduate student; Faculty of journalism, St. Petersburg State University 190000, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Nakhimov str., 3k2, sq. 102 qingsongzhao666@gmail.com Other publications by this author

Introduction

Migration in modern Chinese society is a common phenomenon and an important political issue. The relevance of the research on the topic "Comparative analysis of the image of a Chinese migrant in the Chinese mainland media and the media of Chinese emigration" is due to a number of socio-political, cultural and informational factors that make this topic important for modern scientific discourse.

In the context of globalization and the growth of migration flows, the Chinese diaspora has become one of the largest in the world. Thus, the emigration of Chinese citizens abroad and the formation of overseas Chinese communities is an important feature of the Chinese nation. On the one hand, this provides the Chinese government with channels for implementing a policy of soft power and lobbying, on the other hand, it threatens to drain talent and capital from the country. Thus, this phenomenon has a strong influence on Chinese public policy. This creates the need to analyze how the image of a Chinese migrant is constructed in various media spaces. The media have a significant influence on the formation of public opinion, and studying how Chinese migrants are represented in various types of media helps to identify the peculiarities of the representation of migrants depending on the political and social context.

The analysis of such differences allows for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of information space formation in various political and cultural systems, as well as how different groups of Chinese migrants are perceived both inside and outside China. This research also contributes to a better understanding of the role of media in maintaining cultural ties between the diaspora and the Homeland, as well as in shaping a new identity of Chinese living abroad.

Thus, this article is relevant both for media studies and for the study of migration, as it helps to reveal the complex interactions between the media, the state and the diaspora in the context of global migration processes.

The purpose of this study is to compare how Chinese migrants are represented in mainland Chinese media and emigrant Chinese media. To achieve this goal, the following tasks have been set:

1. Describe the historical, political and economic contexts of Chinese migration,

2. To form a plan for the analysis of articles on migration issues in the Chinese media,

3. Select materials in the relevant media,

4. To analyze approaches to the description of migration in different types of media,

5. To identify the main differences and similarities in the characteristics of the image of a Chinese migrant,

6. To assess the influence of cultural and political factors on the formation of the image of a Chinese migrant.

The object of the study is the materials of the Chinese mainland and migrant media on the issues of Chinese emigration in the period 2023-2024. The most popular Chinese mainland and Chinese migrant publications were used as the publications from which the materials of the articles were taken - the People's Daily and Xinhua, The World Journal, The Epoch Times. These publications respectively represent the view of the Chinese government (People's Daily and Xinhua) and independent publishers (World Journal and The Epoch Times) on the problem of migration. These materials will help to establish whether there is a difference in the representation of the image of a migrant in state and independent media both in China and abroad. The selection of articles was carried out using the function "search for articles by keyword" according to the words "Chinese migration", "migration of Chinese", "Chinese emigration", "Chinese migrants". At the second stage, the selected articles were analyzed for compliance with the stated topic. If the topic of Chinese emigration abroad or Chinese emigrants abroad was the main topic of the article, it was allowed to be analyzed. The subject of the study is the image of a Chinese migrant in the Chinese media. The methodology of this study includes content analysis and quantitative analysis of Chinese news media texts. General scientific methods such as analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction were also used.

Historical and contextual overview

Chinese migration has a long and complex history, spanning several centuries and characterized by various waves of emigration. These migration processes have had a significant impact on the formation of the Chinese diaspora around the world, contributing to cultural exchange and economic development both in China and in the countries of residence of migrants.

Historically, Chinese migration began to develop actively from the middle of the 19th century, although cases of Chinese migration outside their country occurred earlier. The first wave of emigration was associated with internal social and economic problems such as deteriorating living conditions, political instability and natural disasters, including opium wars and uprisings (for example, the Taiping Rebellion of 1850-1864).^[1] During this period, a large number of Chinese left their homeland, seeking to find better living conditions abroad. The migrants, mostly from China's southern provinces such as Guangdong and Fujian, were heading to various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Many of them worked in railway construction, mines and agriculture, which contributed to the development of these regions ^[2]. This wave of migration continued until the beginning of the twentieth century.

The second wave (1940s - 1950s) of emigration was associated with the events of World War II and the Chinese Civil War. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, many opponents of the communist regime (including nationalists and intellectuals) left the country, and many of them found shelter in Taiwan, Hong Kong and other Southeast Asian countries, as well as the United States and Canada ^[3]. At that time, the attitude towards emigrants in China was negative, they were perceived as traitors and an alien element. The Chinese government did not maintain ties with diasporas, and Chinese culture in diasporas was maintained mainly through ties with Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The third wave occurred in the 1980s - 1990s. After the economic reforms in China initiated by Deng Xiaoping, many Chinese began to migrate to study, work and open businesses abroad. The growth of migration to and from the country is closely linked to the history of socio-economic reforms in the country. After China's leadership identified global economic integration as a key goal in 1979, many of its citizens moved abroad in search of better economic opportunities. Previous decades were marked by state control over international movements, but at the end of the twentieth century and in the new millennium, global mobility gradually became more accessible ^[4]. Moreover, the Government began to view emigration not as a threat, but as an opportunity. Emigrants became an important resource for the country, as they could return with new knowledge, experience and capital ^[5]. The emigration of students and businessmen was supported as a means to develop economic and cultural ties with other countries.

Chinese migration has continued to increase over the past two decades. The reasons for this are both economic factors (the search for better business and education opportunities) and social factors (the desire to avoid congestion and competition in the labor market in China). This latest wave of emigration also includes highly qualified professionals, students and entrepreneurs, which has led to an increase in the number of Chinese living in Western countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.^[6]

As a result of these waves, the Chinese diaspora has formed in different parts of the world, creating diverse cultural and social communities. These communities not only preserve their Chinese identity, but also actively influence the cultural and economic aspects of their countries of residence. They also play an important role in establishing links between China and the rest of the world, which promotes cultural exchange and the development of international relations. These communities, on the one hand, maintain contact with the historical Homeland, where many of its members have relatives, and, on the other hand, form their own unique huaqiao culture ^[7].

This aspect also concerns media coverage of various issues, including the formation of the image of migrants themselves. The Chinese diaspora has its own media, both relatively independent and associated with various political forces. Before the ubiquity of the Internet, these local media played a leading role in diasporas, but in the digital era, the PRC media – the media of mainland China - also began to influence communities. In addition, the links between diasporas and the Chinese population are being strengthened through social networks such as WeChat ^[8]. These media often presented different positions and views on the same issues, including on the issues of Chinese migrants abroad.

It is worth noting that in the XXI century. China is facing the problem of aging and population outflow. In 2000, the working-age population reached its peak; in 2020, about 19% of its 1.4 billion citizens were over the age of 60, the retirement age ^[9]. At the same time, after the 1990s, China experienced an "emigration crisis", during which millions of people moved abroad. According to United Nations estimates, as of 2020, about 10.5 million Chinese citizens lived abroad. Thus, it can be assumed that the Chinese government (and, consequently, Chinese government newspapers) will express a negative attitude towards migrants who have gone abroad in the state media. On the other hand, the Chinese Government is now seeking to maintain ties with these "new" migrants, as they differ from those who emigrated in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and the Chinese Government currently has ties to the wider diaspora, estimated to number between 35 and 50 million people. Moreover, new migration strategies are being developed within the framework of the "One Belt, One Road" strategy ^[10]. This can also be reflected in the press.

The focus of this study is on both the Chinese mainland media and the media of Chinese living abroad (mainly in the United States). This study did not consider the media of such regions as Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, since they have a controversial legal status and their inhabitants cannot be fully called migrants. As is known, "the role of the media in constructing the image of migrants is quite large, as it presents on its pages "expert assessments" and opinions of journalists, officials and fuses stable stereotypes from them, which become the basis for the opinion of the philistine." ^{[11, p.530]}. In turn, the media image of migrants influences their perception in their historical homeland, in the host country and within the migrant community itself.

The Chinese mainland media plays an important role in shaping public opinion, disseminating information and maintaining state ideology. They have their own unique characteristics related to the political context, cultural traditions and technological changes. Chinese media operate under strict state control, which determines their main function: the transmission of information corresponding to the official line of the party. The main state-owned media, such as Xinhua and CCTV (China Central Television), play the role of information agents providing a unified ideological platform. In this study, we will look at the materials of such media outlets as the People's Daily and Xinhua.

In China, the media, as a rule, serve as a propaganda tool, contributing to the spread of the ideology of the Communist Party of China. They actively support government initiatives such as the Chinese Dream and anti-poverty programs, as well as create a positive image of China in the international arena. An important part of the work of the Chinese media is the observance of censorship norms ^[12]. Information about events that may affect the stability and security of the State is carefully monitored. This applies both to domestic issues (such as protests or corruption) and to international conflicts in which China is involved.

Chinese emigration media also play an important role in presenting information, culture and public opinion among Chinese diasporas living outside China. These media have their own unique features, which differ from mainland Chinese media, and perform many functions in the lives of expats.

The media of Chinese emigration are focused on meeting the needs and interests of Chinese migrants, which may differ depending on the country of residence ^[13]. These media provide up-to-date information about events and changes in the lives of Chinese communities in various countries. This may include information about local politics, economics, culture and social issues, as well as events in China itself. The emigration media actively supports cultural traditions and values, helping the Chinese to keep in touch with their homeland. They publish materials about holidays, traditions and other aspects of Chinese culture.

At the same time, the media of Chinese emigration often have more freedom in covering information than the mainland media, since they are most often owned by private individuals and non-state corporations, which allows them to critically approach issues that may be taboo in China. Unlike the Chinese mainland media, which are under strict control, expatriate media can openly discuss the policies of the Chinese government and express criticism of political decisions. Emigrant media often present a variety of points of view, which allows readers to get more balanced information. This contributes to the creation of public opinion, which may differ from the official party line.

Among the media reviewed in this study, we will highlight The World Journal, a newspaper published in the United States and owned by the private Taiwanese company United Daily News, and the international newspaper The Epoch Times, published by the Epoch Media Group, owned by the Chinese religious organization (sect) Falun Gong, banned in China and Russia. These publications are one of the most widespread emigrant media abroad, among those not in the hands of the Chinese government, and it should be assumed that they will put forward a different, different from the state, view of Chinese migration.

For the study, 30 texts related to Chinese immigrants in each edition were selected and analyzed. The content of the articles was analyzed, the main topics related to emigration were identified, the mood of these articles, emotional and evaluative vocabulary related to the image of a Chinese migrant, and the features of the image of a Chinese migrant in the materials of each publication were revealed.

The image of a Chinese migrant in mainland and migrant Chinese media

Among the newspapers produced by the Chinese foreign diaspora, the two presented differ markedly both in subject matter and in the frequency of mentioning the phenomenon of Chinese migration abroad. The World Journal as a whole is the main independent mouthpiece of Chinese migration and pays great attention to these issues. So, almost every 20th article touches on the topic of Chinese migration. The topics most frequently found in the newspaper and related to migration issues include the following: problems of legal migration (23% of all reviewed publications), practical advice for migrants (18%), integration of immigrants into local communities (18%), crimes committed by migrants (7%), success stories of migrants (7%), Chinese cultural heritage (7%), ties with China (5%), discrimination (5%), return to China (2.5%), capital flight from China (2.5%), the growth of Chinese migrants abroad (2.5%).

As can be seen from the presented topics, this publication focuses on the issues of legal and successful migration of Chinese to the United States and their integration into American society. The newspaper's attention is focused on how the Chinese community lives in the United States, and little attention is paid to criticism of the Chinese government, despite the fact that the publication is in opposition to the official Chinese press and the government. The issues raised in the articles relate to the problems of the Chinese community in emigration, not the problems of Chinese society in China. On the other hand, since the newspaper focuses on the problems of Chinese immigration to the United States, little attention is devoted to the issues of connection with the historical homeland, the concept of "greater China" and the ideology of the "Chinese Dream". This publication writes about the achievement of the "American Dream" by Chinese migrants, painting the image of a successful, though not always happy, migrant.

Speaking of epithets describing Chinese migrants, the following are most often used: "well-off", "successful", "hardworking" (most often), "patriotic", "elderly" (a large number of materials are devoted to the problem of elderly migrants, representatives of the first generation ^[14]), "lonely", "generous". The most common occupations of Chinese migrants found in articles are lawyer (most common), artist, restaurant owner, businessman, student, investor, violator.

Thus, the image of a Chinese migrant in the World Journal appears in three guises: firstly, he is a hardworking and successful businessman, secondly, he is not always a clean businessman, and thirdly, he is an elderly Chinese man suffering from loneliness and incomplete integration into society. In general, the most common positive image of a Chinese migrant is that of a person seeking to integrate into society and ensure a stable and secure life. Although such a migrant remembers the traditions of his historical homeland, he strives to become part of a new community (especially for young migrants).

In The Epoch Times, the image of the Chinese migrant is somewhat different, due to the fact that the newspaper has a more pronounced political coloring, oppositional to the CPC and the government of the People's Republic of China. It is also worth noting that this newspaper, in smaller volumes than the World Journal, explores the topic of Chinese migration abroad and does it from other positions.

Just like in the World Journal, the largest percentage (30% of all reviewed publications) The topics of the articles are the issues of illegal migration. This is followed by the problem of the growth of Chinese migrants abroad (20%). However, other common topics are different – political migration from China (16%) and the problem of the CPC's influence on the behavior of migrants (10%). As we can see from this, the newspaper pays great attention to the political situation in China and seeks to link the behavior of the Chinese authorities with the growth of migration flows from China. This significantly distinguishes this media from other media presented. The newspaper also raises topics such as the success stories of Chinese migrants (18%) and Chinese cultural heritage (5%).

In general, it can be noted that the image of the Chinese migrant in The Epoch Times is different, it is less positive and more politicized. According to this publication, the main roles of Chinese migrants include political refugees, activists, communists, CCP agents, spies, fraudsters, illegal migrants, lobbyists, investors, businessmen, lawyers, rich people and workers. As can be seen from the presented characteristics, the publication has very alarmist views on Chinese migration abroad. Migrants are often seen as spies, CCP agents engaged in diversions and promotion of the interests of the Chinese government, as well as hunting for political refugees from China. If economic reasons were the most obvious reason for migration for all other publications, here we are most often talking about political reasons and the flight of oppositionists from China abroad. In addition, the publication, unlike other media, writes about migrants' ties with China not as a country or culture, but with the CPC and the current government (and in a negative context): "Association member Chen, who preferred to give only his last name, says that he knows in the Fukien Association political asylum seekers in the United States who still have close ties with the Chinese regime and follow its orders."^[15]. Thus, the publication is suspicious of migrants from China, although it is a Chinese opposition organization.

On the other hand, this publication sympathizes with political refugees from China, telling their stories in detail according to the single principle "an unbearable life in China is a happy and successful life in exile." At the same time, the process of emigration is often described as an "escape". For example, "68-year-old Peng Lu, an Australian of Chinese descent, talks about his life marked by extraordinary difficulties and resilience. After six attempts to escape China, he is now enjoying the fruits of freedom as a successful business owner and skilled bamboo flute player in Australia. His journey, filled with near-death experiences and unwavering determination, is an inspiring testimony to the human spirit."^[16]

Thus, migrants from China can be presented as successful or not, but they are always somehow connected with the regime in China – they are either its victims or agents. Migration is always seen as a forced step, and emigrants, according to the authors of the publication, should completely break ties with the Chinese political regime or even fight against it. Such a politically biased view of Chinese migrants abroad is certainly the least objective and does not fully reflect the real situation. Such an image is a mechanism for controlling public opinion in the hands of Falun Gong and can influence the perception of both the political power of the PRC and migrants from there.

However, the newspaper also contains a large number of "success stories" telling how refugees from China managed to arrange their lives abroad, open a successful business and lead a "free" life in a new country, outside the control of the CCP. It is important to note that in all success stories, however, it is emphasized that their heroes are "political refugees", for example, in an article from July 2024 it is noted that her hero, Mr. Cheng, moved from Hong Kong to the UK and opened a successful coffee shop not for economic reasons, but after "after the anti-extradition movement in 2019, the political situation in Hong Kong deteriorated."^[17] That is, the image of the Chinese migrant, although generally positive (and the authors maintain a positive attitude towards emigration), it is emphatically politicized.

In the Chinese mainland press, the problems of Chinese migrants living abroad are considered less often than the problems of foreign migrants coming to China. International migration issues are most often found in the general context of combating illegal migration, which includes both immigration to China and emigration from China. In these articles, there is no image of a migrant as such, officials and representatives of law enforcement agencies responsible for combating illegal migration come out on top. Slightly more than half of all articles by the People's Daily are devoted to these topics, and 25% of articles in Xinhua. Thus, the central theme of the articles is the state, not the person. In general, with such articles, China is trying to maintain a positive image of the country and prevent illegal migration. For example, an article in Xinhua dated May 14, 2024 states that "China strongly opposes the hype by some American media and politicians of the problem of the so-called large number of Chinese immigrants illegally entering the United States and China's inability to stop this process. This is an attack and slander against China. The representative stated that China's position on the issue of illegal immigration is consistent and clear. The Chinese Government strongly opposes all forms of smuggling activities."^[18] It is important to note that illegal migrants from China themselves are mentioned in passing in this article and the problem of their existence is practically denied.

However, there is another approach to describing the image of migrants in the Chinese media, namely, their emphasized desire to maintain ties with their historical homeland and preserve China's cultural heritage even abroad. In the materials of 30% of the articles of the People's Daily and 43% of the articles of Xinhua, stories are told of how Chinese migrants living abroad (the United States, Brazil, Malaysia were most often mentioned) maintain ties with China or preserve their Chinese traditions. For example, it tells about the study of Chinese by migrant children, the celebration of Chinese traditional holidays, ways migrants communicate with relatives who have remained in China, and much more.

The articles also pay great attention to the favorable role that Chinese migrants have on China's international relations and foreign policy: "Generations of Chinese have not only adhered to traditions, but also continued to innovate, contributing to the integrated development of Chinese culture and Malaysian multiculturalism, as well as strengthening ties between China and Malaysia."^[19] Also, articles that form a positive image of Chinese migrants often mention their positive impact on the economy of the country in which they currently live, for example, "In a written speech, Speaker of the Brazilian House of Representatives Li fully confirmed the important contribution that immigrants from China have made to the economic and social development of Brazil, and highly appreciated the friendly exchanges between the two countries and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Brazil and China" ^[20].

Other topics related to Chinese migrants abroad include migrant associations and their work abroad (an important mechanism of mainland Chinese soft power ^[21]), discrimination against Chinese migrants, the return of migrants to their homeland in China, the problem of capital flight abroad and the growth of emigration from China and its cause.

In general, the image of the Chinese migrant emerging in the Chinese continental media is very positive, although much less specific than in the migrant media. There is certainly an explanation for this, since the migrant media looks at the problem from the inside and is much more aware of the life of Chinese migrants abroad, while the mainland media is far from the problem under consideration. It is important to note that the Chinese mainland media do not see problems in the emigration of their citizens, if migration is carried out by a legal method. Moreover, they often see Chinese migrants abroad as opportunities to strengthen the country's image abroad and a mechanism for establishing more friendly relations with the host country, that is, they see them as an instrument of soft power. ^{[22, p.54]} At the same time, it is strongly emphasized that migrants do not lose ties with their homeland and remain Chinese even abroad.

The image of a Chinese migrant includes traits such as hard work, success, and security. It is emphasized that Chinese migrants can successfully coexist with the residents of the country to which they moved, while maintaining their traditions and ties with their homeland and relatives who remained in China. There are no negative features in the image of a Chinese migrant, even in articles about illegal migration, the cases of real violators are not disclosed – only the successful work of Chinese special services is indicated. At the same time, it is worth noting that in Chinese mainland media, unlike migrant media, uniformity remains in the formation of the image of a migrant – both the People's Daily and Xinhua raise the same topics, and a generally identical image of a Chinese migrant abroad is formed.

Thus, in general, the main narratives about migrants include the problems of illegal migration, the causes of emigration, the positive representation of successful Chinese abroad, state support and connection with the Homeland, problems of assimilation and preservation of cultural identity.

In general, it can be noted that the image of a Chinese migrant emerging in the media is most often positive and successful. Most often, this is a hardworking and integrated migrant, although preserving his national identity, who, as a rule, does not pose problems for the host country.

Of the four publications presented, The World Journal presents a more objective and less politicized view of Chinese migration, while The Epoch Times (as an opposition media outlet) and the People's Daily and Xinhua (as state media) present a more biased view of Chinese migration. The Epoch Times presents migrants as political refugees fighting against the CCP, or CCP agents undermining the work of the Chinese opposition. At the same time, Chinese mainland publications strongly emphasize the desire of refugees to maintain cultural and economic ties with their historical homeland and work for the benefit of China.

Mainland Chinese media, under strict state control, tend to follow official ideology and political attitudes, which is reflected in the image of Chinese migrants.^[23] These media emphasize the successes of Chinese abroad and their connection with their homeland, focusing on patriotism and cultural identity. At the same time, expatriate Chinese media, operating in a more free information environment, offer more diverse and often critical points of view, focusing on integration issues, assimilation difficulties and discrimination issues.

It is important to note that none of the media described the emigration of Chinese from China abroad as a negative phenomenon. All publications see new opportunities in migrants, either for migrants themselves or for the PRC. The image of a migrant in the media as a whole (with a few exceptions in some alarmist articles in The Epoch Times) is positive, migrants are presented as hardworking and responsible citizens who do not pose problems for the country to which they migrated. However, it is also important to note that the most common topic in all newspapers is the problem of illegal migration. This problem is usually considered without reference to specific cases and generally does not affect the image of a migrant, however, it is obvious that it is critically important for all parties that Chinese migration and the Chinese diaspora abroad remain within the legal framework.

However, there are a number of differences. Thus, mainland media, to a greater extent than independent migration media, tend to emphasize the unbreakable bond of migrants with China. This can be linked to the diaspora policy of the PRC ^[24]. Currently, China is pursuing a policy aimed at maintaining ties with emigrants, encouraging the return of talented specialists and investors back to the country through "reverse migration" programs ^[25]. The government actively attracts Chinese working abroad to contribute to the national economy and scientific research. Programs are also being developed to strengthen ties with the Chinese diaspora, which is part of China's soft power strategy. The "soft power" strategy, actively promoted by China, is aimed at strengthening the country's influence abroad through cultural, educational and economic programs ^[26]. Huaqiao are seen as China's "informal ambassadors" who can promote Chinese culture, economy and politics in their countries of residence.

It is important for the Chinese government to maintain communication and good relations with the diaspora abroad, especially in the United States, since for it the diaspora can become a mechanism of soft power and a means of lobbying for China's international interests ^[27]. Therefore, in the official media, the problem of migration (which is quite acute in modern China, which is characterized by a sharp aging of the population) is not presented from the standpoint of condemnation, and migrants are not presented as traitors. On the contrary, the media presents migrants as decent and honest people who are to some extent the "face" of modern China. By creating an image of patriotic migrants in the media, the Chinese government, on the one hand, creates in the minds of the population an image of a migrant as an agent of China, and, on the other hand, allows not to alienate Huaqiao.

The image of a migrant agent of the PRC is actively criticized (but not debunked) by The Epoch Times. As an independent – and, moreover, openly oppositional – media outlet, this newspaper creates the image of a migrant who is a fighter against the CCP government, who fled the country for political reasons. It is important to emphasize that in this media, migrants, although they do not support the policy of the PRC, remain primarily Chinese, that is, they follow political events in their homeland and hope to return there. Thus, the opposition independent media presents migrants from China as somehow connected with their historical homeland (either as active oppositionists or as agents and spies of the CPC). This is due to the fact that the Chinese opposition also seeks to use huaqiao as its lobbying mechanism in the governments of other countries, but no longer for, but against the interests of the Chinese government. Therefore, through their media, they seek to convince readers that Chinese migrants are politically active, and emphasize their importance as a political force.

The independent local media, the World Journal, has no such direct links with either the Chinese government or the opposition, and primarily represents the interests of Chinese migrants abroad. Therefore, it emphasizes the connection of migrants with their historical Homeland less than in previous cases, and more materials are devoted to the problems of integration of Chinese migrants in the host country. These materials have almost no political overtones, and they pay more attention to US policy than to the policy of the People's Republic of China. This media, being politically independent, does not seek to use migrants as a political tool. The image of Chinese migrants in it is the most restrained – they are not unquestioning patriots of the People's Republic of China, and not ardent oppositionists. The main leitmotif in creating the image of a migrant in this media is harmony. Migrants should strive for harmonious integration with local communities, while preserving their national identity. This is probably the most objective image, since it is less politically biased.

Thus, it can be concluded that the image of a Chinese migrant in the Chinese mainland and migrant media depends on the political orientation of the publication. If it belongs to the Government of the People's Republic of China, it will represent migrants as patriots of the People's Republic of China, maintaining contact with it and working for the benefit of the country. If this is an opposition media outlet, the migrants will be presented either as political refugees, fighters against the regime, or as its spy agents. And only the World Journal, which adheres to a professional and neutral style in news coverage, although its editorial policy is focused on the needs and interests of Chinese communities, creates the most objective image of a Chinese migrant striving for successful integration, but maintaining ties with his historical homeland, This can be attributed to the fact that the publication is not funded and It is not supervised by a political party or group, and therefore has no obvious political preferences

Conclusion

As a result of the conducted research, the main similarities and significant differences in the representation of Chinese migrants in mainland Chinese media and emigrant media were revealed. The image of a migrant in the Chinese mainland media is formed within the framework of state propaganda, with an emphasis on patriotism and the preservation of cultural ties with the Motherland. Migrants are portrayed as successful representatives of the Chinese nation, keeping in touch with China and promoting its interests abroad. This reflects China's state policy of strengthening "soft power" and supporting the diaspora for economic and cultural influence in the international arena.

The expatriate opposition media is also biased in shaping the image of the Chinese migrant, often labeling migration as political rather than economic.

On the other hand, independent expatriate media such as the World Journal reflect more diverse and often critical points of view, highlighting the problems of migrant integration, discrimination and the difficulties of living in another country. Independence from the Chinese authorities and other political groups allows these media to focus on practical issues, avoiding political bias.

At the same time, in all media, the image of a Chinese migrant is more positive than negative. Chinese people abroad are usually represented as successful businessmen or lawyers, most often law–abiding and well-influencing the economic development of the country of residence. This is the unifying factor of all media.

Thus, it can be concluded that the political context and editorial policy play a key role in shaping the image of the Chinese migrant in the media. In the mainland media, migrants are presented as agents of China's "soft power", in the opposition media as fighters against the regime, while in the independent emigrant media the emphasis is on their social and cultural problems.