Pandemic Narratives and International Relations: How Pakistani Media Framed the U.S. and China During COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the modern world, from testing the health sector to changing the dynamics of international relations. The web of international relations is adorned with diplomatic etiquette, where all countries agree on the principle of equity, but practice denies this principle. In the case of Pakistan’s foreign policy, national interest plays a vital role in the establishment of bilateral or close relations with big powers (the US and China). In this regard, the media serves as a tool to gauge a country's foreign policy inclination towards any specific nation, reflecting the strength of the press. Pakistani media's coverage of COVID-19, especially regarding major powers like China and the US, invites academic inquiry into how third-world countries such as Pakistan perceived these nations' approaches during the pandemic and its impact on Pakistan. Therefore, this research focuses on Pakistani print media’s representation of the approach of the US and China towards the pandemic. The data was accessed through the LexisNexis database. The results have shown that the frames obtained are consistent, and Pakistani print media (The Express Tribune, Dawn) reflect a more pronounced political leaning towards China compared to the US. It means that even though the US helped Pakistan economically and with health equipment, in this epidemic, China is positioned as a role model and a fairy godmother that the Pakistani government can rely on.