The Evolution of Food Safety Discourse in China’s Government Work Reports (2009-2024) and Its Role in National Image Building

Yanbing  Gao

doi:10.54691/sr7mpg32

Authors

Yanbing Gao

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/sr7mpg32

Keywords:

Food safety discourse; China’s Government Work Reports; Linguistic analysis; National image building.

Abstract

This study focuses on the food safety-related discourse in China’s Government Work Reports from 2009 to 2024 and employs linguistic analysis to map its evolution. By analyzing lexical choices, syntactic structures, modal verbs and semantics in the report, this paper reveals the phased transformation of China's food safety governance concept from reactive supervision to emphasizing comprehensive, technologically empowered and internationally aligned regulatory system. At the same time, it analyzes how this discursive evolution shapes a dual national image of an accountable and effective governor domestically and a responsible global actor internationally, reflecting the state’s approach to food safety governance. This analysis offers insights into the interplay between policy discourse and national image projection.

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